1, 2. (a) Kuyini okungabe kwethusa amaJuda ayethunjiwe? (b) Kuyini okwabamangalisayo? (c) Kuyini esizaxoxa ngakho?

 KULEZINTO ezinengi esezenziwe nguHezekheli ethunywe nguJehova, ezitshengisa amaJuda athunjiweyo lokho okuzakwenzakala. Iziphrofetho lezo zitshengisa indlela uJehova azabahlulela ngayo. (Hez. 3:24-26; 4:1-7; 5:1; 12:3-6) Zikuveza egcekeni ukuthi uJehova uzabajezisa kabuhlungu.

² UHezekheli uphinda ame phambi kwamaJuda athunjiweyo. Kufanele ukuthi lokho kuyawethusa kakhulu. Mhlawumbe ayazibuza ukuthi kuyini okunye asefuna ukuwatshengisa khona okuzawehlela. Kodwa lokho afuna ukukwenza khathesi kuzabamangalisa ngoba kutshiyene lezinye iziphrofetho zakhe. Khathesi kasoze aphrofethe ngokuthi bazajeziswa kodwa ufuna ukubatshela isithembiso esihle. (Hez. 37:23) Asiboneni ukuthi uHezekheli wawatshelani amaJuda lokuthi lokho kwakusitshoni. Sizahlola lokuthi isiphrofetho sakhe sigcwaliseka njani esikhathini sethu.

3. (a) Isigodo ‘sakoJuda’ sasimelani? (b) Kungani kuthiwa ‘isigodo sako-Efrayimi’ sasimela umbuso wezizwana ezilitshumi?

³ UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi athathe izigodo ezimbili, esinye asibhale ukuthi “esikaJuda,” futhi esinye asibhale ukuthi  “esikaJosefa esimela u-Efrayimi.” (Bala uHezekheli 37:15, 16.) Izigodo lezi ezimbili zazimelani? Isigodo ‘sakoJuda’ sasimela umbuso wezizwana ezimbili, isizwana sakoJuda lesakoBhenjamini. Embusweni lo kwakubusa amakhosi avela koJuda futhi kwakulabaphristi ababesenza inkonzo yabo ethempelini elaliseJerusalema. (2 Imilan. 11:13, 14; 34:30) Ngakho umbuso wakoJuda yiwo owawulamakhosi osendo lukaDavida kanye labaphristi abangamaLevi. Isigodo ‘sako-Efrayimi’ sona sasimela umbuso wako-Israyeli wezizwana ezilitshumi. Kodwa kungani kuthiwa ngesako-Efrayimi? Ngenxa yokuthi inkosi yokuqala yombuso wezizwana ezilitshumi yayivela esizwaneni sako-Efrayimi. Inkosi le kwakunguJerobhowami. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi isizwana sako-Efrayimi saba yisizwana esikhulu kulazo zonke ko-Israyeli. (Dute. 33:17; 1 Amakho. 11:26) Kodwa amakhosi osendo lukaDavida ayengabusi embusweni lo wezizwana ezilitshumi zako-Israyeli futhi kwakungelabaphristi abangamaLevi.

4. Okwenziwa nguHezekheli ngezigodo ezimbili kwakutshengisani? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi ahlanganise izigodo lezo ezimbili “zibe yisigodo esisodwa.” AmaJuda ayengakuzwisisi lokho uHezekheli ayekwenza, yikho athi kuye: “Sitshele phela ukuthi konke lokhu kutshoni.” UHezekheli wawachasisela ukuthi ayekwenza kwakutshengisa lokho okuzakwenziwa nguJehova ngokwakhe. Wawatshela ukuthi uJehova wayezazihlanganisa izigodo lezo zibe ‘yisigodo esisodwa esandleni sakhe.’—Hez. 37:17-19.

5. Okwenziwa nguHezekheli kwakusitshoni? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “Ukuhlanganiswa Kwezigodo Ezimbili.”)

⁵ UJehova wachasisela uHezekheli ukuthi ukuhlanganiswa kwezigodo lezo ezimbili kwakusitshoni. (Bala uHezekheli 37:21, 22.) Abantu ababethunjwe embusweni wakoJuda lalabo ababethunjwe embusweni wako-Israyeli wezizwana ezilitshumi, umbuso wako-Efrayimi, babezabuyela elizweni lako-Israyeli bafike babe “yisizwe esisodwa.”—Jer. 30:1-3; 31:2-9; 33:7.

6. Yiziphi iziphrofetho ezihambelanayo esizithola kuHezekheli isahluko 37?

⁶ Iyamangalisa indlela iziphrofetho ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa ezikuHezekheli isahluko 37 ezihambelana ngayo. Zitshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayezavuselela abantu bakhe abenze baphile (amavesi 1-14) lokuthi wayezabamanyanisa (amavesi 15-28). Iziphrofetho lezi ezimbili zisifundisa isifundo esiqakathekileyo. Zisitshengisa ukuthi abantu abafileyo bangavuswa baphinde baphile lokuthi abantu abadabukene phakathi bangaphinda bamanyane.

7. Lokho okutshiwo ku-1 ImiLando 9:2, 3 kutshengisa njani ukuthi “kuNkulunkulu zonke izinto ziyenzeka”?

⁷ Kwakukhanya kungathembisi ukuthi abantu bako-Israyeli babengakhululwa ekuthunjweni lokuthi babengaphinda bahlangane babe yisizwe esisodwa. a Kodwa “kuNkulunkulu zonke izinto ziyenzeka.” (Mat. 19:26) UJehova wakwenza lokho ayekukhulumile. Ngo-537 B.C.E., amaJuda akhululwa ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni. Ngemva kwalokho abantu ababevela emibusweni le yomibili bafika  eJerusalema baqalisa ukuvuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu liyakufakazela lokho, lithi: “Ezinye izizukulwane zakoJuda, lezakoBhenjamini, lezako-Efrayimi, lezakoManase zafika zahlala eJerusalema.” (1 Imilan. 9:2, 3; Ezra. 6:17) Kwenzakala khona kanye uJehova ayekutshilo. Abantu bombuso wako-Israyeli wezizwana ezilitshumi bahlangana labombuso wamaJuda wezizwana ezimbili, bahlala ndawonye.

8. (a) U-Isaya waphrofetha wathini? (b) Yiphi imicijo emibili eqakathekileyo esiyithola kuHezekheli 37:21?

⁸ Kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-200, umphrofethi u-Isaya wakhuluma ngalokho okwakuzakwenzakala ebantwini bako-Israyeli labakoJuda nxa sebekhululwe ekuthunjweni. Waphrofetha ukuthi uJehova wayezaqoqa ‘abako-Israyeli ababesabalele labakoJuda abahlakazeke emagumbini womane omhlaba.’ Wathi abanye babo ‘babezaphuma e-Asiriya.’ (Isaya. 11:12, 13, 16) UJehova ‘wakhipha abako-Israyeli ezizweni ababekuzo’ njengoba nje wayetshilo. (Hez. 37:21) Nanzelela izinto lezi ezimbili eziqakathekileyo: Okokuqala, uJehova kazange abize abantu bakhe ababethunjiwe ngokuthi ‘ngamaJuda’ loba ngokuthi ‘ngabako-Efrayimi,’ kodwa wathi ‘ngabako-Israyeli.’ Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi basebeyisizwe esisodwa esimanyeneyo. Okwesibili, akuzange kuthiwe ama-Israyeli ayezavela eBhabhiloni kuphela kodwa kwathiwa ayezavela ezizweni ezinengi. UNkulunkulu wayezawaqoqa “ezindaweni zonke.”

9. UJehova wawancedisa njani ama-Israyeli ayesebuyele elizweni lawo ukuthi amanyane?

⁹ Kuyini uJehova akwenzayo ukuze ama-Israyeli ayesebuyele elizweni lawo amanyane? Wawanika abelusi abalothando. Abanye babo kwakunguZerubhabheli, loMphristi Omkhulu uJoshuwa, lo-Ezra kanye  loNehemiya. Waphinda wathuma labaphrofethi bakhe uHagayi loZakhariya loMalakhi. Amadoda la ayethembekile asebenza nzima ekhuthaza isizwe sako-Israyeli ukuthi silandele imithetho kaNkulunkulu. (Neh. 8:2, 3) Kanti njalo uJehova wabavikela abantu bakhe ngokufadalalisa amacebo ayebunjwa yizitha ezazifuna ukubahlasela.—Esta. 9:24, 25; Zak. 4:6.

10. Kuyini uSathane aphumelela ukukwenza?

¹⁰ Okudanisayo yikuthi ama-Israyeli amanengi kawazange akhonze uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo lanxa yena wayewenzele konke lokhu. Okwenziwa ngama-Israyeli kwalotshwa emabhukwini eBhayibhili abhalwa esephendukile ekuthunjweni. (Ezra. 9:1-3; Neh. 13:1, 2, 15) Kwathi kusiyafika iminyaka engu-100 ephendukile elizweni lawo, ayesephambuke kakhulu ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. UJehova waze wawancenga wathi: “Phendukani kimi.” (Mal. 3:7) Ngesikhathi uJesu ebuya emhlabeni, inkolo yesiJuda yayisidabukene phakathi. Kwasekulamaqembu atshiyeneyo ayekhokhelwa ngamadoda ayengabelusi kuhle abantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Mat. 16:6; Mak. 7:5-8) USathane wayesephumelele ukwehlukanisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo, isiphrofetho sikaJehova esimayelana lokumanyana kwabantu bakhe sasizagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. Kodwa sasizagcwaliseka njani?

11. (a) Kuyini uJehova akuvezayo mayelana lesiphrofetho sokumanyana kwabantu bakhe? (b) Kuyini okunye uSathane azama ukukwenza esexotshiwe ezulwini?

¹¹ Bala uHezekheli 37:24. UJehova waveza ukuthi isiphrofetho sakhe esimayelana lokumanyana kwabantu bakhe sasizagcwaliseka ngokupheleleyo nxa sekubusa ‘inceku yakhe uDavida,’ okutsho uJesu Khristu. UJesu waqalisa ukubusa ngo-1914. b (2 Sam. 7:16; Luk. 1:32) Ngalesosikhathi isizwe sako-Israyeli sasesithathelwe indawo ngu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, amaKhristu agcotshiweyo. (Jer. 31:33; Gal. 3:29) USathane wathi esexotshwe ezulwini wazama ukwehlukanisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Isam. 12:7-10) Ngokwesibonelo ngemva kokufa kukamfowethu uRussell ngo-1916, uSathane wasebenzisa abahlamuki ukuze ehlukanise amaKhristu agcotshiweyo. Kodwa kungakayi ngaphi abahlamuki labo bayitshiya inhlanganiso. USathane wabangela lokuthi abafowethu ababekhokhela enhlanganisweni ngalesosikhathi babotshwe bafakwe ejele. Kodwa lalokho akuzange kuyitshabalalise inhlanganiso kaJehova. AmaKhristu agcotshiweyo ayethembekile aqhubeka emanyene.

12. Kungani amacebo kaSathane okwehlukanisa amaKhristu agcotshiweyo engazange aphumelele?

¹² Isizwe sako-Israyeli sehluleka ukuhlala simanyene, kodwa amaKhristu agcotshiweyo kawazange avume ukuthi uSathane awehlukanise. Kuyini okwenza ukuthi amacebo kaSathane angaphumeleli? Yikuthi amaKhristu agcotshiweyo enza konke okusemandleni awo ukuthi ahlale elandela izimiso zikaJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, iNkosi yawo uJesu Khristu iyawavikela futhi iqhubeka imnqoba uSathane.—Isam. 6:2.

13. Isiphrofetho sokuhlanganiswa kwezigodo ezimbili sisifundisani?

¹³ Isiphrofetho esimayelana lokuhlanganiswa kwezigodo ezimbili sigcwaliseke njani esikhathini sethu? Khumbula ukuthi isiphrofetho lesi sitshengisa indlela amaqembu amabili ayezamanyana ngayo. Kuyini okwakuzakwenza bamanyane? Esiphrofethweni lesi uJehova nguye ohlanganisa izigodo lezi ezimbili. Lokhu kusifundisani? Kusifundisa ukuthi uJehova nguye owayezakwenza ukuthi abantu abamkhonzayo babe munye.—Hez. 37:19.

14. Isiphrofetho sokuhlanganiswa kwezigodo ezimbili sigcwaliseke njani kusukela ngo-1919?

¹⁴ Ngo-1919 abantu bakaNkulunkulu bahlanjululwa basebeqalisa ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ehlanzekileyo. Kusukela lapho isiphrofetho sokuhlanganiswa kwezigodo ezimbili saqalisa ukugcwaliseka kubo. Ngalesosikhathi inengi labantu ababekhonza uJehova kwakungamaKhristu agcotshiweyo ayelethemba lokuyakuba ngamakhosi labaphristi ezulwini. (Isam. 20:6) AmaKhristu la agcotshiweyo yiwo amelwa ‘yisigodo sakoJuda’ ngoba umbuso wakoJuda yiwo owawulamakhosi osendo lukaDavida kanye labaphristi ababengamaLevi. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amaKhristu ayelethemba lokuphila emhlabeni aqalisa ukukhonza ndawonye lamaKhristu agcotshiweyo. AmaKhristu la yiwo amelwa ‘yisigodo sako-Efrayimi’ ngoba umbuso lowo wawungela makhosi osendo lukaDavida, labaphristi ababengamaLevi. Amaqembu la womabili akhonza uJehova emanyene ekhokhelwa yiNkosi eyodwa uJesu Khristu.—Hez. 37:24.

15. Amazwi akuHezekheli 37:26, 27 agcwaliseka njani lamuhla?

¹⁵ Isiphrofetho sikaHezekheli sitshengisa ukuthi banengi abantu ababezamanyana lamaKhristu agcotshiweyo ukuze bakhonze uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo. UJehova wakhuluma ngabantu bakhe wathi: ‘Ngizabandisa babe banengi.’ Waqhubeka wathi: “Itende lami lizakuba phezu kwabo.” (Hez. 37:26, 27; amabala angaphansi) Amazwi la asikhumbuza lokho okwakhulunywa ngumphostoli uJohane sekwedlule iminyaka engaba ngu-700 uHezekheli waphrofetha. UJohane wathi “lowo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi uzakwelulela itende lakhe” phezu ‘kwexuku elikhulu.’ (Isam. 7:9, 15) Lamuhla amaKhristu agcotshiweyo kanye labexuku elikhulu bayisizwe esisodwa, bonke bangabantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi bangaphansi kwetende lakhe.

16. UZakhariya waphrofethani mayelana lokumanyana kwamaKhristu agcotshiweyo lalabo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni?

¹⁶ Omunye owaphrofetha ngokumanyana kwamaKhristu agcotshiweyo lalabo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni ngumphrofethi uZakhariya. UZakhariya yena waphrofetha ngesikhathi amaJuda esephendukile ekuthunjweni. Wathi: ‘Amadoda alitshumi avela kuzo zonke izizwe azabamba umphetho wejazi lendoda engumJuda awugagadlele athi: “Sifuna ukuhamba lani ngoba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulani.”’ (Zak. 8:23) Evesini le amabala athi ‘indoda engumJuda,’ awatsho umuntu oyedwa kodwa atsho iqembu labantu. Iqembu lelo ngelamaKhristu agcotshiweyo asemhlabeni. (Rom. 2:28, 29)  “Amadoda alitshumi” wona amela labo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni. Babamba amaKhristu agcotshiweyo ‘bawagagadlele bahambe lawo.’ (Isaya. 2:2, 3; Mat. 25:40) Amazwi athi ‘babamba bagagadlele’ lathi ‘bahambe labo,’ atshengisa ukuthi amaqembu la ayamanyana abe munye.

17. UJesu wayichasisa njani indlela esimanyene ngayo lamuhla?

¹⁷ Kungenzakala ukuthi uJesu wayecabanga ngesiphrofetho sikaHezekheli sokumanyana ngesikhathi ekhuluma ngokuthi yena ungumelusi. Wathi izimvu zakhe amaKhristu agcotshiweyo zazizahlangana ‘lezinye izimvu’ okutsho labo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni, zibe ‘ngumhlambi owodwa.’ (Joh. 10:16; Hez. 34:23; 37:24, 25) Okwatshiwo nguJesu labaphrofethi bakudala kutshengisa ukuthi abantu bakaJehova babezamkhonza bemanyene kungelani lokuthi balethemba lokuyaphila ezulwini loba elokuphila emhlabeni. Lanxa inkolo zamanga ziqhubeka zidabukana phakathi, thina simanyene.

18. Njengoba kutshiwo kuHezekheli 37:28, kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu ‘bangabi ngabomhlaba’?

¹⁸ Amazwi okucina asesiphrofethweni lesi sikaHezekheli asitshela lokho okuzakwenza sihlale simanyene kuze kube nini lanini. (Bala uHezekheli 37:28.) Sizahlala simanyene ngoba indawo kaJehova engcwele ‘iphakathi kwethu,’ okutsho ukuthi simkhonza ngendlela ayamukelayo. Indawo yakhe engcwele izaqhubeka iphakathi kwethu nxa singazigcina sihlanzekile futhi singayisibo bomhlaba. (1 Khor. 6:11; Isam. 7:14) UJesu watshengisa ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi abalandeli bakhe bangabi ngabomhlaba. Wabathandazela  ngenhliziyo yonke wathi: ‘Baba Ongcwele, bakhangele ukuze babe munye. Ayisibo bomhlaba, bangcwelise ngeqiniso.’ (Joh. 17:11, 16, 17) Nanzelela ukuthi emthandazweni kaJesu ukuba ‘munye’ kuhamba ndawonye ‘lokungabi ngowomhlaba.’

19. (a) Singamlingisela njani uNkulunkulu? (b) Ngobusuku bokucina uJesu engakafi, kuyini akukhulumayo mayelana lokumanyana?

¹⁹ Emthandazweni okuJohane isahluko 17 yikho kuphela lapho esithola khona uJesu ebiza uNkulunkulu ngokuthi “Baba Ongcwele.” UJehova uhlanzekile, kalasici ngitsho futhi ulungile. Walaya ama-Israyeli wathi: “Kumele libe ngcwele ngoba mina ngingcwele.” (Lev. 11:45) Njengoba lathi ‘silingisela uNkulunkulu,’ sifuna ukuba ngcwele kukho konke esikwenzayo. (Efe. 5:1; 1 Phet. 1:14, 15) Ukuba ngcwele kutsho ukuthi kumele kube lomehluko phakathi kwethu labantu bomhlaba. Ngakho ngobusuku bokucina uJesu engakabulawa, wacacisela abafundi bakhe ukuthi okwakuzakwenza bahlale bemanyene yikuthi behlukane lomhlaba futhi bangalandeli okwenziwa ngabantu bomhlaba lo abangabambananga.

20, 21. (a) Kuyini okwenza sithembe ukuthi uJehova uzasivikela? (b) Uzimisele ukwenzani?

²⁰ Indlela oFakazi bakaJehova abamanyene ngayo emhlabeni wonke lamuhla itshengisa ukuthi uJehova wawaphendula amazwi omthandazo kaJesu athi: “Ubakhangele ngenxa yomubi.” (Bala uJohane 17:14, 15.) USathane wehlulekile ukwehlukanisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwenza simthembe kakhulu uNkulunkulu ukuthi uzaqhubeka esivikela. Esiphrofethweni sikaHezekheli, uJehova wathi izigodo ezimbili zazizahlanganiswa zibe yisigodo esisodwa esandleni sakhe. Yikho uJehova ebavikela ngesandla esilamandla abantu bakhe ukuze uSathane angenelisi ukubehlukanisa.

²¹ Manje kuyini okumele sonke sizimisele ukukwenza? Kumele siqhubeke sisenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze kuhlale kulokuthula lokumanyana ebandleni. Lokhu kugoqela ukuqhubeka sikhonza uJehova sisethempelini lakhe. Izahluko ezilandelayo zizasichasisela ukuthi lokho kutshoni.