Imizi Yesiphephelo—Ilungiselelo LikaNkulunkulu Lesihe
“Lemizi iyakuba-ngeyokuphephela ukuba yilowo nalowo obulala umuntu kungengamabomu abalekele khona.”—NUMERI 35:15.
1. Uyini umbono kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila necala legazi?
UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU ubheka ukuphila komuntu njengokungcwele. Futhi ukuphila kusegazini. (Levitikusi 17:11, 14) Ngenxa yalokho uKayini, umuntu wokuqala owazalwa emhlabeni, wazibangela icala legazi lapho ebulala umfowabo u-Abela. Ngakho, uNkulunkulu watshela uKayini: “[Igazi] lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisemhlabathini.” Igazi elangcolisa umhlabathi endaweni abulawelwa kuyo lanikeza ubufakazi buthule, kodwa obucacile, ngokuphila okwakufushaniswe ngonya. Igazi lika-Abela lakhala kuNkulunkulu lifuna impindiselo.—Genesise 4:4-11.
2. Inhlonipho kaJehova ngokuphila yagcizelelwa kanjani ngemva kweSikhukhula?
2 Inhlonipho kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila komuntu yagcizelelwa ngemva kokuba uNowa olungileyo nomkhaya wakhe bephume emkhunjini njengabasinde eSikhukhuleni sembulunga yonke. Ngaleso sikhathi uJehova wandisa ukudla kwesintu kwahlanganisa nenyama yezilwane kodwa hhayi igazi. Futhi wayala: “Elenu igazi okukulo umphefumulo wenu ngiyakulibiza; kuzo zonke izilwane ngiyakulibiza; nakubo bonke abantu ngiyakubiza umphefumulo wabo, owomunye esandleni somunye. Ochitha igazi lomuntu, igazi lakhe liyakuchithwa ngabantu, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wamenza umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe.” (Genesise 9:5, 6) UJehova waliqaphela ilungelo lokuba isihlobo esiseduze sobulewe sibulale umbulali lapho sihlangana naye.—Numeri 35:19.
3. UMthetho kaMose wabugcizelela kanjani ubungcwele bokuphila?
3 EMthethweni owanikezwa u-Israyeli ngomprofethi uMose, ubungcwele bokuphila bagcizelelwa ngokuphindaphindiwe. Ngokwesibonelo, uNkulunkulu wayala: “Ungabulali.” (Eksodusi 20:13) Inhlonipho ngokuphila yabonakala nakulokho uMthetho kaMose owawukusho ngokufa okuhilela owesifazane okhulelwe. UMthetho wawusho ngokucacile ukuthi uma yena noma ingane yakhe engakazalwa befa ngengozi ngenxa yokulwa kwamadoda amabili, abahluleli kwakumelwe bahlaziye izimo nezinga lamabomu, kodwa isijeziso sasingase sibe “ukuphila ngokuphila.” (Eksodusi 21:22-25) Nokho, ingabe ngandlela-thile umbulali ongumIsrayeli wayengayibalekela imiphumela yesenzo sakhe sobudlova?
Isiphephelo Sababulali?
4. Ngaphandle kwakwa-Israyeli, yiziphi izindawo zesiphephelo eziye zaba khona esikhathini esidlule?
4 Kwezinye izizwe ezingeyena u-Israyeli, indlu engcwele, noma isiphephelo, yayilungiselelwe ababulali nezinye izigebengu. Lokhu kwakunjalo ezindaweni ezinjengethempeli likankulunkulukazi u-Arthemisi e-Efesu lasendulo. Ngokuqondene nezindawo ezifanayo, kuyabikwa: “Ezinye izindawo zokukhulekela zaziyizidleke zezigebengu; futhi kwakuvama ukuba kudingeke kuncishiswe inani leziphephelo. E-Athene izindawo ezingcwele ezithile kuphela umthetho owawuziqaphela njengeziphephelo (ngokwesibonelo, ithempeli likaTheseus lezigqila); esikhathini sikaTiberiyu amabandla ezigelekeqe ezindaweni zokukhulekela ayeseyingozi kangangokuba ilungelo leSiphephelo lanikezwa imizi embalwa (ngonyaka ka-22).” (The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1909, uMqulu II, ikhasi 256) Kamuva, amasonto eLobukholwa aba yizindawo zesiphephelo, kodwa lokhu kwathanda ukuphuca abezomthetho amandla kwawanika isigungu sabapristi futhi kwaphazamisa ukusetshenziswa okufanele kobulungisa. Ukusetshenziswa kabi kwazo ekugcineni kwaholela ekuphelisweni kwaleli lungiselelo.
5. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi uMthetho wawungakuvumeli ukuboniswa kwesihe lapho kufe umuntu ngenxa yobudedengu?
5 Phakathi kwama-Israyeli, ababulali bangamabomu babengavunyelwa endaweni engcwele noma esiphephelweni. Ngisho nompristi ongumLevi owayekhonza e-altare likaNkulunkulu kwakumelwe ayobulawa ngenxa yokubulala okuhleliwe. (Eksodusi 21:12-14) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uMthetho wawungakuvumeli ukuboniswa kwesihe lapho kufe umuntu ngenxa yobudedengu. Ngokwesibonelo, umuntu kwakumelwe enze udonga ophahleni oluyisicaba lwendlu yakhe entsha. Ngalé kwalokho, icala legazi laliyoba phezu kwaleyondlu uma othile ewa ophahleni futhi afe. (Duteronomi 22:8) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma umnikazi wenkunzi enomkhuba wokuhlaba exwayisiwe kodwa wangayigcina iqashiwe yayisibulala umuntu, umnikazi waleyo nkunzi wayeba necala legazi futhi wayengase abulawe. (Eksodusi 21:28-32) Obunye ubufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu ukukhathalela kakhulu ukuphila bubonakala ekutheni noma ubani owayeshaya isela lize life wayeba necala legazi uma lokhu kwenzeke emini lapho leso selelesi besingase sibonwe khona futhi sikhonjwe. (Eksodusi 22:2, 3) Khona-ke, ngokusobala imithetho kaNkulunkulu elinganisela ngokuphelele yayingakuvumeli ukuba ababulali bangamabomu babalekele isijeziso sokufa.
6. Umthetho ‘wokuphila ngokuphila’ wawugcinwa kanjani kwa-Israyeli wasendulo?
6 Uma kubulewe umuntu kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, igazi lofile kwakumelwe liphindiselwe. Umthetho ‘wokuphila ngokuphila’ wawugcinwa ngokuba umbulali abulawe “umphindiseli wegazi.” (Numeri 35:19) Umphindiseli kwakuba isihlobo esiseduze sesilisa somuntu obulewe. Kodwa kuthiwani ngababulali abangahlosile?
Ilungiselelo LikaJehova Lesihe
7. Yiliphi ilungiselelo uNkulunkulu ayelenzele labo ababebulele umuntu bengahlosile?
7 Labo ababebulele umuntu ngengozi noma bengahlosile, ngothando uNkulunkulu wabenzela ilungiselelo lemizi yesiphephelo. Ngokuqondene nalena, uMose watshelwa: “Yisho kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Nxa niwela iJordani ningena ezweni laseKhanani, niyakumisela imizi ibe-yimizi yokuphephela ukuba umbulali obulala umuntu kungengamabomu abalekele khona. Iyakuba-yimizi yenu yokuphepha kumphindiseli, ukuze umbulali angafi engakemi phambi kwenhlangano, ahlulelwe. Imizi eniyakuwanika yona iyakuba-yimizi yenu eyisithupha yokuphephela. Niyakunikela imizi emithathu ngaphesheya kweJordani, ninikele imizi emithathu ezweni laseKhanani ibe-yimizi yokuphephela . . . ukuba yilowo nalowo obulala umuntu kungengamabomu abalekele khona.”—Numeri 35:9-15.
8. Yayikuphi imizi yesiphephelo, futhi ababulali abangahlosile babesizwa kanjani ukuba bafike kuyo?
8 Lapho ama-Israyeli engena eZweni Lesithembiso, ngokulalela amisa imizi yesiphephelo eyisithupha. Emithathu yalemizi—iKedeshi, iShekemi, neHebroni—yayisentshonalanga yoMfula iJordani. Empumalanga yeJordani kwakunemizi yesiphephelo yaseGolanu, eRamoti, naseBeseri. Lemizi yesiphephelo eyisithupha yayisezindaweni ezifinyeleleka kalula ngemigwaqo eyayigcinwa isesimweni esihle. Ezindaweni ezifanelekile eceleni kwalemigwaqo, kwakunezimpawu ezazinegama elithi “isiphephelo.” Lezi zimpawu zazibonisa indlela eya emzini wesiphephelo, futhi umbulali ongahlosile wayebalekela kulowo oseduze ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe. Lapho, wayengavikeleka kumphindiseli wegazi.—Joshuwa 20:2-9.
9. Kungani uJehova ayelungiselele imizi yesiphephelo, futhi yayilungiselelwe ngokwenzuzo yobani?
9 Kungani uNkulunkulu alungiselela imizi yesiphephelo? Yalungiselelwa ukuze izwe lingangcoliswa yigazi elingenacala nokuba icala legazi lingabi phezu kwabantu. (Duteronomi 19:10) Yayilungiselelwe ngokwenzuzo yobani lemizi yesiphephelo? UMthetho wawuthi: “Kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli, nakumfokazi, nakogogobeleyo phakathi kwabo lemizi iyakuba-ngeyokuphephela ukuba yilowo nalowo obulala umuntu kungengamabomu abalekele khona.” (Numeri 35:15) Ngakho, ukuze abe nokulunga futhi ahlangabezane nemigomo yobulungisa kuyilapho evumela isihe, uJehova watshela ama-Israyeli ukuba abekele eceleni imizi yesiphephelo yababulali abangahlosile (1) ababengama-Israyeli okuzalwa, (2) abafokazi kwa-Israyeli, noma (3) abagogobele bakwamanye amazwe ababehlala ezweni.
10. Kungani kungase kuthiwe imizi yesiphephelo yayiyilungiselelo lesihe elenziwa uNkulunkulu?
10 Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi ngisho noma umuntu engumbulali ongahlosile, ngaphansi komthetho kaNkulunkulu kwakumelwe abulawe: “Ochitha igazi lomuntu, igazi lakhe liyakuchithwa ngabantu.” Ngakho, kwakungelungiselelo likaJehova uNkulunkulu lesihe kuphela lapho umbulali ongahlosile ayengabalekela khona komunye walemizi yesiphephelo. Ngokusobala, abantu babemzwela umuntu owayebalekela umphindiseli wegazi, ngoba bonke babeqaphela ukuthi bangenza icala elifanayo bengahlosile bese bedinga isiphephelo nesihe.
Ukubaleka Ukuze Uphephe
11. Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, yini umuntu ayengayenza uma ngengozi ebulala umuntu ayesebenza naye?
11 Umfanekiso ungase ukhulise ukwazisa kwakho ngelungiselelo lesihe likaNkulunkulu lesiphephelo. Ake uzicabange ungumuntu ogawula imithi kwa-Israyeli wasendulo. Ake sithi ngokungazelele izembe liyaphuma emphinini walo bese libulala umuntu osebenza naye. Yini owawuyoyenza? UMthetho wawenze ilungiselelo laleso simo kanye. Ngokungangabazeki, wawungalisebenzisa ngokugcwele leli lungiselelo elenziwe uNkulunkulu: “Nansi indaba yombulali oyakubalekela khona [emzini wesiphephelo] aze aphile: yilowo nalowo obulala umakhelwane wakhe kungengamabomu, ebekade engamzondi, njengomuntu oya ehlathini nomakhelwane wakhe ukugawula imithi, isandla sakhe besesigalela ngezembe ukunquma umuthi, insimbi iphunyuke emphinini, imshaye umakhelwane wakhe aze afe, lowo uyakubalekela komunye walemizi aze aphile.” (Duteronomi 19:4, 5) Nokho, ngisho noma usufikile emzini wesiphephelo, wawungeke ukhululeke ngokuphelele ungalandisi ngalokho okwenzekile.
12. Iyiphi inqubo eyayilandelwa ngemva kokuba umbulali ongahlosile efike emzini wesiphephelo?
12 Nakuba wamukelwe ngomusa, kwakumelwe uchaze udaba lwakho kubadala esangweni lomuzi wesiphephelo. Ngemva kokungena emzini, wawuyophindiselwa emuva ukuze uquliswe phambi kwabadala abamelela ibandla lika-Israyeli emasangweni omuzi osesifundeni sendawo lowo muntu afele kuyo. Lapho, wawuyoba nethuba lokuveza ubufakazi bokuba ongenacala.
Lapho Ababulali Bequla Amacala
13, 14. Yiziphi ezinye izinto abadala ababeyofuna ukuqiniseka ngazo phakathi nokuqulwa kwecala lombulali?
13 Phakathi necala phambi kwabadala esangweni lomuzi waleso sifunda, ngokungangabazeki wawuyophawula ngokubonga ukuthi kugxilwa kakhulu ekuziphatheni kwakho kwesikhathi esidlule. Abadala babeyocabangela ngokucophelela ubuhlobo bakho nofileyo. Ingabe ubumzonda, wamqamekela, futhi wamshaya ngamabomu wambulala? Uma kunjalo, abadala kwakuyomelwe bakunikele kumphindiseli wegazi, futhi wawuyokufa. Lamadoda athembekile ayeyoyiqaphela imfuneko yoMthetho ‘yokukhipha igazi elingenacala kwaIsrayeli.’ (Duteronomi 19:11-13) Uma kuqhathaniswa, ekuquleni amacala okwahlulela namuhla, abadala abangamaKristu kudingeka bayazi kahle imiBhalo, benze ngokuvumelana nayo kuyilapho becabangela isimo sengqondo nokuziphatha kwesikhathi esidlule komenzi wobubi.
14 Bephanda ngomusa, abadala bomuzi babeyofuna ukwazi ukuthi ubulokhu umcathamela yini ofileyo. (Eksodusi 21:12, 13) Ingabe umqamekele? (Duteronomi 27:24, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Ingabe ubuthukuthelele lowo muntu kangangokuthi uze wenza iqhinga lokumbulala? Uma kunjalo, wawuyobe ukufanele ukufa. (Eksodusi 21:14) Ngokuyinhloko abadala babeyofuna ukwazi ukuthi bekunobutha yini, noma inzondo, phakathi kwakho nofileyo. (Duteronomi 19:4, 6, 7; Joshuwa 20:5) Ake sithi abadala baye bakuthola ungenacala base bekuphindisela emzini wesiphephelo. Yeka ukuthi wawuyobonga kanjani ngesihe esibonisiwe!
Ukuphila Emzini Wesiphephelo
15. Yiziphi izimfuneko ezazibekelwa umbulali ongahlosile?
15 Umbulali ongahlosile kwakumelwe ahlale emzini wesiphephelo noma angeqi ibanga eliyizingalo ezingu-1 000 (cishe amamitha angu-440) ngaphandle kwezindonga zawo. (Numeri 35:2-4) Uma ehambahamba ngalé kwalowo mngcele, wayengahlangana nomphindiseli wegazi. Ngaphansi kwalezo zimo, umphindiseli wayengambulala umbulali angatholi sijeziso. Kodwa umbulali wayengaboshwa neze ngamaketango noma avalelwe ejele. Njengesakhamuzi sasemzini wesiphephelo, kwakumelwe afunde umsebenzi, asebenze, futhi akhonze njengelungu eliwusizo lomphakathi.
16. (a) Umbulali ongahlosile kwakumelwe ahlale isikhathi eside kangakanani emzini wesiphephelo? (b) Kungani ukufa kompristi omkhulu kwakukwenza kwenzeke ukuba umbulali aphume emzini wesiphephelo?
16 Umbulali ongahlosile kwakumelwe ahlale isikhathi eside kangakanani emzini wesiphephelo? Cishe ukuphila kwakhe konke. Nokho, uMthetho wawuthi: ‘Kufanele ahlale emzini wakhe wokuphephela kuze kufe umpristi omkhulu; kepha emva kokufa kompristi omkhulu umbulali uyakubuyela ezweni eliyifa lakhe.’ (Numeri 35:26-28) Kungani ukufa kompristi omkhulu kwakwenza kuvumeleke ukuba umbulali ongahlosile aphume emzini wesiphephelo? Phela, umpristi omkhulu wayengomunye wabantu abavelele kakhulu esizweni. Ngakho-ke ukufa kwakhe kwakuyoba isenzakalo esiphawuleka kangako ukuthi sasiyokwaziwa yizo zonke izizwana zakwa-Israyeli. Ngaleso sikhathi bonke ababaleki abasemizini yesiphephelo babengabuyela emakubo ingasekho ingozi yokuhlaselwa abaphindiseli begazi. Ngani? Ngoba uMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawuyale ukuba ithuba lomphindiseli lokubulala umbulali liphele lapho kufa umpristi omkhulu, futhi wonke umuntu wayekwazi lokhu. Uma isihlobo esiseduze siphindiselela ukufa ngemva kwalokho, sasiyoba umbulali futhi ekugcineni sasiyothola isijeziso sokubulala.
Imiphumela Ehlala Njalo
17. Yini eyayingaba imiphumela yemithetho evimbelayo eyayibekwa phezu kombulali ongahlosile?
17 Yini eyayingaba imiphumela yemithetho evimbelayo eyayibekwa phezu kombulali ongahlosile? Yayiyisikhumbuzo sokuthi wayebangele ukufa komuntu. Cishe, sonke isikhathi ngemva kwalokho wayeyobheka ukuphila komuntu njengokungcwele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayengeke nanini akhohlwe ukuthi wayephathwe ngesihe. Njengoba eboniswe isihe, ngokuqinisekile wayeyofuna ukuba nesihe kwabanye. Futhi ilungiselelo lemizi yesiphephelo nemithetho yayo evimbelayo lalizuzisa abantu bonke. Kanjani? Ngokuqinisekile kumelwe ukuba laligxilisa kubo ukuthi akufanele babe budedengu noma bangakukhathaleli ukuphila komuntu. Ngalokho amaKristu kufanele akhunjuzwe ngesidingo sokugwema ukuba budedengu okungabangela ukufa komuntu ngengozi. Futhi-ke, ilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lesihe lemizi yesiphephelo kufanele lisishukumisele ukuba sibonise isihe uma ukwenza kanjalo kufaneleka.—Jakobe 2:13.
18. Yiziphi izindlela ilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lemizi yesiphephelo elaliyinzuzo ngazo?
18 Ilungiselelo likaJehova uNkulunkulu lemizi yesiphephelo lalizuziza nangezinye izindlela. Abantu babengawakhi amaqembu abalungisi abazibekayo abafuna umbulali bekholelwa ukuthi unecala ngaphambi kokuba kuqulwe icala. Kunalokho, babembheka njengongenacala lokubulala ngamabomu, bemsiza nokumsiza ukuba aphephe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ilungiselelo lemizi yesiphephelo laliphambene kakhulu namalungiselelo osuku lwanamuhla okugcina ababulali emajele nasematilongweni okulungisa izigwegwe, lapho bondliwa khona ngezimali zomphakathi futhi ngokuvamile lapho beba khona izigebengu ezimbi nakakhulu ngenxa yokusondelana nabanye abenzi bokubi. Elungiselelweni lomuzi wesiphephelo, kwakungadingeki ukuba kwakhiwe, kunakekelwe, futhi kuqashelwe amajele abizayo abiyelwe ngezindonga, anemigoqo yensimbi lawo iziboshwa ngokuvamile ezifuna ukweqa kuwo. Eqinisweni, umbulali wayelifuna “ijele” futhi wayehlala kulo phakathi nesikhathi esimisiwe. Futhi kwakumelwe abe isisebenzi, ngaleyo ndlela enze okuthile kokuzuzisa abanye abantu.
19. Yimiphi imibuzo ephakanyiswayo mayelana nemizi yesiphephelo?
19 Ilungiselelo likaJehova lemizi yesiphephelo yakwa-Israyeli lalingelesihe ngempela ukuze kuvikelwe ababulali abangahlosile. Ngokuqinisekile leli lungiselelo lalikhuthaza inhlonipho ngokuphila. Nokho, ingabe imizi yesiphephelo yasendulo isho okuthile kubantu abaphila ekhulwini lama-20? Kungenzeka yini sibe necala legazi phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kodwa singaqapheli ukuthi sidinga isihe sakhe? Ingabe imizi yesiphephelo yakwa-Israyeli inokubaluleka okuthile kosuku lwanamuhla kithi?
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ UJehova ukubheka kanjani ukuphila komuntu?
◻ Yiliphi ilungiselelo lesihe uNkulunkulu alenzela ababulali abangahlosile?
◻ Umbulali wayefika kanjani emzini wesiphephelo, futhi kwakumelwe ahlale khona isikhathi eside kangakanani?
◻ Yini eyayingaba imiphumela yemithetho evimbelayo eyayibekwa phezu kombulali ongahlosile?
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 12]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
Imizi yesiphephelo yakwa-Israyeli yayisezindaweni ezifinyeleleka kalula
IKEDESHI UMfula IJordani IGOLANU
ISHEKEMI IRAMOTI
IHEBRONI IBESERI