INtaba YaseSinayi—Igugu Lasehlane

ANGISOZE ngawukhohlwa umuzwa wenjabulo engaba nawo lapho ngiqala ngqá ukubona iNtaba YaseSinayi. Njengoba sasishayela kule ndawo eshisayo nenothuli eNhlonhlweni YaseSinayi, eGibithe, ngokungazelele ithekisi lethu lafika eThafeni Lase-er-Raha eliwudedangendlale. INtaba YaseSinayi emangalisayo ephakeme ikuleli thafa. Kwakusengathi iyitshe eliyigugu, elibekwe ogwadule. Kwakumangalisa ukucabanga ukuthi kungenzeka iyona kanye le ntaba lapho uMose athola khona uMthetho kuNkulunkulu!

Nakuba kusaphikiswana ngokuthi iNtaba YaseSinayi okukhulunywa ngayo eBhayibhelini yayikuphi ngempela, sekungamakhulu eminyaka izihambeli zenkolo ziza lapha ngoba zikholelwa ukuthi iyona le ntaba edumile. Emuva ekhulwini lesithathu C.E., kwafika abantu ababephila ngokuzila, ababehlose ukuzihlukanisa ngokwenkolo. Ekhulwini lesithupha uMbusi uJustinian I waseByzantium wathi makwakhiwe isigodlo sezindela esiyinqaba kule ndawo ukuze kuvikelwe laba bantu, futhi kuqinisekiswe ithonya lamaRoma kule ndawo. Manje, leso sigodlo, esingaphansi kweNtaba YaseSinayi, sesaziwa ngokuthi isigodlo sikaSt. Catherine. Kungani ungahambisani nami siye eNtabeni YaseSinayi?

Ukuhlola Le Ntaba

Ngemva kokuhamba kulesi sigodi esomile, umshayeli wethekisi lethu ongumBedouin wasehlisa, mina nomngane wami, ngezansi nje kwesigodlo sezindela. Le ndawo igcwele amadwala, futhi zinhle ngempela izindonga ezizungezwe yizihlahla zesigodlo sezindela nengadi evundile. Kodwa siyasidlula, njengoba siphokophele ekugibeleni isiqongo esiseningizimu siyokanisa khona ubusuku bonke. Lesi siqongo, iGebel Musa, okusho “iNtaba KaMose,” ngokuvamile sihlotshaniswa neNtaba YaseSinayi.

Ngemva kokuhamba ngezinyawo amahora amabili sifika endaweni ebizwa ngokuthi iSigodi Sika-Eliya, isigodi esincane esinqamula ithafa leNtaba YaseSinayi elingamakhilomitha amathathu ubude. Ngokomlando, u-Eliya wezwa izwi likaNkulunkulu emgedeni oseduze kwale ndawo. (1 AmaKhosi 19:8-13) Sihlaba ikhefu ngaphansi komsayiphuresi oneminyaka engu-500 ubudala. Kukhona nomthombo wasendulo lapha. Yeka indlela esiwajabulela ngayo amanzi awo acwebile, abandayo esiwakhelelwe umBedouin onobungane!

Njengoba silandela umzila ovamile wezivakashi, sishikashikeka eminye imizuzu engu-20 sikhuphuka izitebhisi zamatshe ezingu-750 sibhekisé amabombo esiqongweni. Lapho sithola isonto elincane. Izindela zigomela ngokuthi lakhiwe kuyo kanye indawo lapho uMose athola khona uMthetho. Eduze nje kwaleli sonto kunomfantu edwaleni okuthiwa uMose wazifihla kuwo lapho uNkulunkulu edlula. (Eksodusi 33:21-23) Kodwa iqiniso liwukuthi akekho owaziyo ukuthi lezi zindawo zazikuphi ngempela. Nakuba kunjalo, ukubuka le ndawo uphezulu esiqongweni kuyamangalisa! Sibuka ukhahlamba lwezintaba zegwadle elibomvu oluhamba luze luyosho ngalé kwethafa eligcwele amadwala. Ngaseningizimu-ntshonalanga kuneGebel Katherina, noma iNtaba iCatherine—engamamitha angu-2 637, okuyindawo ephakeme kunazo zonke lapha.

Ukukhuphukela ERas Safsafa Engumakhelwane

Ngakusasa sithola ithuba lokugibela iRas Safsafa, isiqongo esisethafeni elifanayo elingamakhilomitha amathathu kanye neGebel Musa. IRas Safsafa iyisiqongo esisenyakatho, futhi iphansana kuneGebel Musa. IRas Safsafa ivela ngokungazelelwe eThafeni Lase-er-Raha, indawo okungenzeka ama-Israyeli ayekanisa kuyo lapho uMose ekhuphukela entabeni eyothola uMthetho kuJehova.

Njengoba sihamba sisondela eRas Safsafa sinqamula endaweni enamagquma nezigodi ezincane, sidlula amasonto angasasetshenziswa, izingadi nemithombo—izinto zangesikhathi lapho izindela nonkom’ idla yodwa abangaphezu kwekhulu babehlala emihumeni nasemigedeni ekule ndawo. Manje sekusele indela eyodwa kuphela.

Sihlangana nale ndela ehlala yodwa engadini ebiyelwe ngocingo oluphakeme oluhlabayo. Lapho isivumela ukuba singene, iyachaza ukuthi isineminyaka emihlanu isebenza kule ngadi, yehlela esigodlweni sezindela kanye nje ngesonto. Le ndela isikhombisa indlela eya eRas Safsafa, futhi sikhuphuka ngendlela emangelengele size siyoma endaweni ephakeme enamagquma azungezile. Sibona iThafa Lase-er-Raha elivulekile ngezansi. Njengoba ngilapha kule ndawo ephakeme, ngicabanga ukuthi kungenzeka lena yindawo lapho uMose akhuphukela khona esuka ekamu lakwa-Israyeli eyokuma phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngibona ngeso lengqondo ama-Israyeli ayizigidi ezintathu ehlangene “phambi kwentaba” kuleli thafa elivulekile. Ngibona uMose ehla esihosheni esiseduze, ephethe izibhebhe ezimbili ezilotshwe iMiyalo Eyishumi.—Eksodusi 19:2; 20:18; 32:15.

Njengoba sanelisiwe ukuthi umsebenzi onzima wokugibela le ntaba ube yinzuzo, siphindela etendeni lethu njengoba seliyozilahla kunina. Njengoba sibase umlilo omncane, sifunda izingxenye zika-Eksodusi ezichaza izimo uMose ahlangabezana nazo kule ndawo, bese silala. Ngakusasa emini yasekuseni, siya esigodlweni sezindela sikaSt. Catherine.

Ngaphakathi Esigodlweni

Isigodlo sikaSt. Catherine sibhekwa njengezinye zezikhumbuzo ezibaluleke kakhulu kweLobukholwa. Njengoba kuhlala izindela zesonto LamaGreki Lobu-Orthodox, asidumanga ngenxa yendawo esakhiwe kuyo nje kuphela kodwa nangezithombe nomtapo waso wezincwadi. Isikhathi eside, isigodlo sikaSt. Catherine sasihlala singenamuntu kangangokuba ukufika kwezivakashi kwakuyisenzakalo esingavamile nesijabulisayo. Izindela zazamukela izivakashi ngokuzanga zize zizigeze ngisho nezinyawo. Izivakashi zazikhululekile ukuzulazula ezakhiweni eziningi ezizungezwe izidonga zalesi sigodlo ezingamamitha angu-14 ukuphakama. Ngomoya ophansi, izindela zazivame ukuthi: ‘Hlalani lapha isonto lonke, inyanga yonke, isikhathi eside ngangokuthanda kwenu.’ Nokho, kulezi zinsuku izindela ezisele ezingaba yishumi nambili ziyakhandleka. Manje kufika izivakashi ezingaba ngu-50 000 zizobona lesi sigodlo unyaka ngamunye.

Ngenxa yalezi zixuku, abantu sebevunyelwe ukuvakasha amahora amathathu ngosuku, izinsuku ezinhlanu ngesonto. Izivakashi zingabona ingxenye encane kuphela yalesi sigodlo—igceke elinoMthombo kaMose (lapho kuthiwa uMose wahlangana khona nentokazi eyayizoba umkakhe), iSonto Lokuguqulwa Isimo (elaziwa njengesonto elidala kakhulu emhlabeni elisasetshenziswa) nesitolo sezincwadi. Izivakashi ziboniswa neThempeli Lesihlahla Esivuthayo—okuyindawo izindela ezitshela izivakashi ukuthi uMose wabona kuyo ngokokuqala ngqá ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona. Njengoba izindela zibheka le ndawo njengengcwele kakhulu emhlabeni, izivakashi zicelwa ukuba zikhumule izicathulo, njengoba uNkulunkulu atshela uMose ukuba enze kanjalo.—Eksodusi 3:5.

Kuyasidumaza ukuthi asivunyelwe ukubona umtapo wezincwadi odumile walesi sigodlo, okuyinto esiyilangazelele kakhulu. Lapho sicela ukuba senzelwe umusa, umqondisi wezivakashi uthi: “Lingawa licoshwe zinkukhu! Isigodlo sesizovalwa emizuzwini embalwa.” Nokho, kamuva lapho sesihlukene neqembu lezivakashi esihamba nalo, umqondisi uthi kithi ehleba: “Wozani ngapha!” Sidlula ngaphansi kwezindophi, sikhuphuka izitebhisi, siphambana nendela yaseFrance ebonakala imangele ukuthi sifunani lapho, sizithola sikomunye wemitapo yezincwadi emidala nedume kakhulu emhlabeni! Unezincwadi ezingaphezu kuka-4 500, ngesiGreki, isi-Arabhu, isi-Aramu nesiGibithe. Ngesinye isikhathi, kwakukhona ne-Codex Sinaiticus eyigugu.—Bheka ibhokisi elisekhasini 18.

Isiphetho Esilusizi

Ukuhambela kwethu kule ndawo kuphelela egumbini lokulahla amathambo abantu abashonile elingaphandle kwezindonga zesigodlo. Lapho kunenqwaba yamathambo ezizukulwane ngezizukulwane zezindela nonkom’ idla yodwa, ahlukaniswe aba amaqoqo amathambo emilenze, ezingalo, izingebhezi, njalonjalo. Izingebhezi cishe zishaya ophahleni. Kungani indawo eshaqisa kangaka idingeka? Izindela zinendawo yamangcwaba encane kakhulu. Ngakho uma indela ishona, kuyisiko lazo ukumba zikhiphe amathambo ethuneni elidala kunawo wonke ukuze zithole indawo yokungcwaba. Indela ngayinye iyazi ukuthi ngolunye usuku amathambo ayo ayohlanganiswa nawabanye egumbini lamathambo abafile.

Ngakho ukuvakasha kwethu kuphetha kalusizi. Kodwa ngokuqinisekile bekuwufanele umzamo. Siye sajabulela ukubona izindawo ezimangalisayo nesigodlo sezindela esidumile. Kodwa njengoba sivalelisa, kusihlaba umxhwele ngempela ukucabanga ukuthi kungenzeka besihamba endaweni uMose nesizwe sakwa-Israyeli abahamba kuyo eminyakeni engu-3 500 edlule lapha eNtabeni YaseSinayi—eyigugu lasehlane.—Inikelwe.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 18]

Umvubukulo Obalulekile

Phakathi nekhulu leminyaka elidlule, isazi seBhayibheli saseJalimane uKonstantin von Tischendorf sathola umbhalo wesandla weBhayibheli lesiGreki wangekhulu lesine, manje obizwa ngokuthi i-Codex Sinaiticus, esigodlweni sezindela sikaSt. Catherine. Uhlanganisa ingxenye enkulu yemiBhalo YesiHeberu, ethathwe enguqulweni i-Septuagint yesiGreki, kanye nayo yonke imiBhalo YesiGreki. Lo mbhalo wesandla ungenye yamakhophi amadala kakhulu aphelele aziwayo emiBhalo YesiGreki.

UTischendorf wayefuna ukunyathelisa okwakuqukethwe yileli “gugu elingenakulinganiswa,” njengoba awubiza kanjalo. NgokukaTischendorf, wasikisela ukuthi lo mbhalo wesandla izindela kufanele ziwunikeze umbusi waseRussia—owayengasebenzisa ithonya lakhe ukuze asekele isigodlo sezindela ngoba wayengumphathi weSonto LamaGreki Lobu-Orthodox.

Odongeni lwesigodlo kunencwadi ehunyushiwe eyashiywa uTischendorf, ethembisa ‘ukubuyisa lo mbhalo wesandla, ungenamyocu futhi usesimweni esihle, eMkhandlwini Ongcwele WeNtaba ISinayi lapho nje iwufuna.’ Nokho, uTischendorf waba nomuzwa wokuthi izindela zazingaqapheli ukuthi lo mbhalo wesandla ubaluleke kangakanani noma isidingo sokuba unyatheliswe. Awuzange ubuyiselwe esigodlweni sikaSt. Catherine. Nakuba ekugcineni uhulumeni waseRussia wakhokhela izindela ama-ruble angu-7 000 ngalo mbhalo wesandla, kuze kube namuhla azikayethembi imizamo yezazi yokwembula amagugu azo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi i-Codex Sinaiticus yathunyelwa eBritish Museum, lapho umuntu engayibona khona namuhla.

Kuyinto ephawulekayo ukuthi kwatholakala amabhokisi angu-47 ezithombe nezikhumba ngo-1975 ngaphansi kodonga olusenyakatho lweSt. Catherine. Kwatholakala namakhasi e-Codex Sinaiticus ayelahlekile angaphezu kweshumi nambili. Kuze kube manje, la makhasi awabonwa yinoma ubani ngaphandle kweqembu elincane lezazi.

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 17]

INtaba YaseSinayi

[Imithombo]

NASA photo

Mountain High Maps® Copyright © 1997 Digital Wisdom, Inc.

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

IThafa Lase-er-Raha kanye neRas Safsafa

[Umthombo]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

[Izithombe ekhasini 18]

IGebel Musa nesigodlo sikaSt. Catherine

[Imithombo]

Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum