1, 2. (a) Khuyini ekungenzeka yabangela abantu abasekudingisweni batshwenyeka? (b) Khuyini ebeyizobenza barareke? (c) Sizokucoca ngamiphi imibuzo?

 ANQOTJHISWA nguZimu, uHezekiyeli watjho iimphorofido ezinengi ebantwini abadingiselwe eBhabhiloni, lokho wakwenza ngamatshwayo abonakalako. Isiphorofido sokuthoma esenziwa nguHezekiyeli besinomlayezo wesahlulelo, ngokunjalo ngesesibili, nesesithathu, zaba njalo nezalandelako. (Hez. 3:24-26; 4:1-7; 5:1; 12:3-6) Ekhabolakhona, zoke iimphorofido azenzako bezidlulisela umlayezo wesahlulelo esinamandla emaJudeni.

² Akhe ucabange indlela abadingisiweko ebebatshwenyeke ngayo nababona uHezekiyeli ajama phambi kwabo, alungela ukwenza esinye isiphorofido. Kungenzeka bazibuza ukuthi, ‘Ngimuphi umlayezo odanisako esizowufumana?’ Kodwana nje, izinto bezitjhugulukile, isiphorofido sakhe besingakaphathi umlayezo wesahlulelo kodwana isithembiso esihle. (Hez. 37:23) Ngimuphi umlayezo uHezekiyeli awudlulisela ebantwini abadingisiweko? Utjho ukuthini? Uzithinta njani iinceku zakaZimu namhlanjesi? Akhe sibone.

3. (a) Khuyini ejanyelwe sigodo ‘sakaJuda’? (b) Kubayini “isigodo sakwa-Efrayimu” besijamele umbuso weenkoro ezilitjhumi?

³ UJehova watjela uHezekiyeli bona athathe iingodo ezimbili, atlole kwesinye sazo ukuthi ‘sakaJuda’ esinye ukuthi ‘sakaJosefa, isigodo sakwa-Efrayimu.’ (Funda uHezekiyeli 37:15, 16.) Bezijamele ini iingodo ezimbilezi? Isigodo ‘ebekungesakaJuda’ besijamele imibuso yeenkoro ezimbili, kaJuda newakaBhenjamini. Amakhosi werhelo lakaJuda bewabusa iinkoro ezimbili begodu bewahlotjaniswa nobuphristi njengombana abaphristi bebasebenza ethempelini eJerusalema. (2 Kron. 11:13, 14; 34:30) Ngikho ubukhosi bakwaJuda bebuserhelweni lamakhosi wakaDavida, kuhlanganise nobuphristi bamaLevi. “Isigodo sakwa-Efrayimu” besijamele imibuso yeenkoro ezilitjhumi yakwa-Israyeli. Isigodwesi besihlobene njani no-Efrayimu? Ikosi yokuthoma yombuso weenkoro ezilitjhumi bekunguJerobhowamu, wekoro yakwa-Efrayimu. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, u-Efrayimu waba yikoro eveleleko kwa-Israyeli. (Dut. 33:17; 1 Kho. 11:26) Tjheja ukuthi umbuso weenkoro ezilitjhumi zakwa-Israyeli bewungahlanganisi amakhosi kaDavida namkha abaphristi bamaLevi.

4. Lokho uHezekiyeli akwenza ngokulandelako ngeengodo ezimbili bekufanekiselani? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

⁴ Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uHezekiyeli walayelwa bona athathe iingodo ezimbili azihlanganise “bona zibe sigodo sinye.” Njengombana abadingiswa baqale uHezekiyeli begodu bathukiwe, bambuza ukuthi: “Kghani angekhe usitjele bona zitjho ukuthini izintwezi?” Wabatjela ukuthi lokho akwenzako kufanekisela lokho uJehova azokwenza. UJehova nakakhuluma ngeengodo ezimbili wathi: “Ngizobenza isigodo sinye, bazokuba munye esandleni sami.”—Hez. 37:17-19.

5. Bekutjho ukuthini lokho uHezekiyeli akwenzako? (Funda ibhoksi elithi “Ukuhlanganiswa Kweengodo Ezimbili.”)

⁵ Ngokulandelako, uJehova wahlathulula nokuthi kutjho ukuthini ukuhlanganiswa kweengodo ezimbili. (Funda uHezekiyeli 37:21, 22.) Abadingisiweko abavela embusweni weenkoro ezimbili zakwaJuda, nalabo abavela eenkorweni ezilitjhumi zakwa-Israyeli, (u-Efrayimu) bebazokulethwa enarheni yakwa-Israyeli lapho bebazokuba ‘sitjhaba sinye.’—Jor. 30:1-3; 31:2-9; 33:7.

6. Ngiziphi iimphorofido ezivumelanako ezifumaneka encwadini kaHezekiyeli isahluko sama-37?

⁶ Qala indlela iimphorofido ezikuHezekiyeli isahluko sama-37 ngokubuyiselwa kokulotjha okuhlwengileko ezivumelana ngayo! UJehova angeze abuyisele ukuphila kwaphela (amavesi 1-14) kodwana uzokubuyisela nokubumbana (amavesi 15-28). Iimphorofido ezimbilezi ziphethe umlayezo okhuthazako othi: Ukufa kuzokupheliswa ngitjho nokuhlukana.

7. Indaba esencwadini yoku-1 yeenKronike 9:2, 3 ikuqinisekisa njani ukuthi “ngoZimu zoke izinto ziyenzeka”?

⁷ Ngokombono wabantu, ukutjhatjhululwa nokubumbana kwabadingisiweko bekubonakala kuyinto engekhe yenzeka. a Nanyana kunjalo, “ngoZimu zoke izinto ziyenzeka.” (Mat. 19:26) UJehova  wasizalisa isiphorofido sakhe. Ukuthunjelwa eBhabhiloni kwaphela ngo-537 B.C.E., ngemva kwalokho, abantu bemibuso yomibili babuyela eJerusalema ukusiza ekuvuseleleni ukulotjha kweqiniso. Imitlolo ephefumulelweko ivumelana nalokhu nayithi: “Ezinye iinzukulwana zakaJuda, zakaBhenjamini, zaka-Efrayimu nezakaManase zahlala eJerusalema.” (1 Kron. 9:2, 3; Ezr. 6:17) Njengombana uJehova abikezela, abantu bombuso wakwa-Israyeli weenkoro ezilitjhumi nabantu beenkoro ezimbili zombuso wakwaJuda bahlanganiswa.

8. (a) Khuyini eyaphorofidwa ngu-Isaya? (b) Ngiziphi izinto ezimbili eziqakathekileko ezifumaneka encwadini kaHezekiyeli 37:21?

⁸ Eminyakeni engaba ma-200 ngaphambilini, umphorofidi u-Isaya waphorofida ngalokho ebekuzokwenzeka ku-Israyeli nakuJuda ngemva kobana batjhatjhululwe ekuthunjweni. Wabikezela ukuthi uJehova uzokuthoma ‘ukubuthelela abaphadlhaleleko bakwa-Israyeli’ ‘nabarhatjhekileko bakwaJuda emahlangothini womane wephasi,’ kuhlanganise ‘nokuphuma e-Asiriya.’ (Isa. 11:12, 13, 16) Njengombana uJehova abikezela, wathatha “ama-Israyeli eentjhabeni” ebekakizo. (Hez. 37:21) Tjheja izinto ezimbili eziqakathekileko: Ngesikhathesi, uJehova akasaqaliseli ebantwini abadingisiweko ngokuthi ‘maJuda’ namkha ngokuthi ‘ma-Efrayimu’ ubaqala njengesiqhema sinye, ‘ama-Israyeli.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, bekungaqaliselwa ema-Israyelini ngokuthi avela esitjhabeni sinye, eBhabhiloni kodwana bewavela eentjhabeni ezinengi, kuhlekuhle bewavela “kiwo woke amahlangothi.”

9. UJehova wabasiza njani abantu ababuya ekudingisweni ukuthi babumbane?

⁹ Ngemva kobana abadingisiweko babuyele kwa-Israyeli, uJehova wabasiza njani bona babumbane? Wanikela ama-Israyeli abelusi  abanobuhlobo obuhle naye, abanjengoZerubhabheli, umPhristi oPhakemeko uJotjhuwa, u-Ezra noNerhemiya. UZimu wabuye wabeka abaphorofidi uHagayi, uZakariya, noMalaki. Woke amadoda athembekileko la, asebenza budisi ukusiza isitjhaba bona silandele iinqophiso zakaZimu. (Nerh. 8:2, 3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova wavikela isitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli ngokwenza bona amano wamanaba wabantu bakhe angaphumeleli.—Est. 9:24, 25; Zak. 4:6.

10. Khuyini uSathana aphumelela ukuyenza?

¹⁰ Naphezu kwazo zoke iinqophiso uJehova ebekazinikela ama-Israyeli, amanengi abhalelwa ukulandela ukulotjha okuhlwengileko. Izenzo zawo ziseencwadini zeBhayibheli ezatlolwa ngemva kokubuya kwabantu abadingisiweko. (Ezr. 9:1-3; Nerh. 13:1, 2, 15) Ingakapheli iminyaka elikhulu abuyile ekudingisweni, ama-Israyeli athoma ukungabi netjhebiswano elihle noZimu, bewakude nokulotjha okuhlwengileko, kangangokuthi uJehova wawancenga wathi: “Buyelani kimi.” (Mal. 3:7) Ngesikhathi uJesu afika ephasini, ikolo yamaJuda beyihlukaniseke yaba ziinqhema ezihlukahlukeneko ebezirholwa belusi abangakathembeki. (Mat. 16:6; Mar. 7:5-8) USathana waphumelela ukwenza bona abantu bakaZimu bangabumbani. Nanyana kunjalo, isiphorofido sakaJehova sebumbano besizokuzaliseka. Bekuzokwenzeka njani lokho?

11. (a) Khuyini uJehova ayivezako ngesiphorofido sakhe sebumbano? (b) USathana walinga ukwenzani godu ngemva kokuqothwa kwakhe ezulwini?

¹¹ Funda uHezekiyeli 37:24. UJehova waveza ukuthi isiphorofido sakhe sebumbano besizokuzaliseka ngokupheleleko ebantwini bakhe ngemva kokuthi ‘incekwakhe uDavida,’ okunguJesu, beyizokuthoma ukubusa ibe yiKosi begodu lokho kwenzeka ngo-1914. b (2 Sam. 7:16; Luk. 1:32) Ngesikhatheso, u-Israyeli wajanyiselelwa ngo-Israyeli ongokomfanekiso, okungabazesiweko. (Jor. 31:33; Gal. 3:29) USathana, wabuye walinga ukutjhabalalisa ibumbano labantu bakaZimu khulukhulu ngemva kokuqothwa ezulwini. (IsAm. 12:7-10) Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuhlongakala kwakaMfowethu uRussell ngo-1916, uSathana wasebenzisa iinhlubuki ukulinga ukuhlukanisa abazesiweko. Ngemva kwalokho, iinhlubuki zayitjhiya ihlangano. USathana waphumelela nokwenza abafowethu ebebadosa phambili ngesikhatheso ukuthi babotjhwe kodwana lokho akhenge kwenze bona abantu balise ukulotjha uJehova. Abafowethu abazesiweko ebebathembekile kuJehova bahlala babumbene.

12. Kubayini uSathana abhalelwa ukuhlukanisa ama-Israyeli angokomfanekiso?

¹² Ngokungafani nalokho okwenzeka ema-Israyelini wakade, u-Israyeli ongokomfanekiso, wakghona ukujamelana namano kaSathana. Kubayini uSathana abhalelwa? Kungombana abazesiweko balinga ngakho koke ukulandela iinkambiso zakaJehova. IKosabo uJesu Krestu eragela phambili ihlula uSathana beyisolo ibavikela.—IsAm. 6:2.

13. Ngiliphi iqiniso eliqakathekileko isiphorofido sokuhlanganiswa kweengodo ezimbili esisifundisa lona?

¹³ Sitjho ukuthini isiphorofido sokuhlanganiswa kweengodo ezimbili esikhathini sethu? Khumbula ukuthi isiphorofidwesi besitjengisa indlela iinqhema ezimbilezi ebezizokuhlanganiswa ngayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isiphorofidwesi sitjengisa ukuthi uJehova nguye obangela bona kube nebumbano. Yeke, umfanekiso osesiphorofidweni seengodo ezimbili ezihlanganiswako utjengisa liphi iqiniso eliqakathekileko ngokulotjha okuhlwengileko? Iqiniso lokuthi: UJehova uzokubangela bona abamlotjhako ‘babe munye.’—Hez. 37:19.

14. Kusukela ngo-1919, isiphorofido sokuhlanganiswa kweengodo sizaliseke njani ngendlela ekulu?

¹⁴ Kusukela ngo-1919, ngemva kobana abantu bakaZimu bahlwengiswe etjhebiswaneni labo noZimu bebathoma nokungena epharadesini elingokomfanekiso, isiphorofido sokuhlanganiswa kweengodo ezimbili sathoma ukuzaliseka ngendlela ekulu. Ngesikhatheso, inengi labantu elahlanganiswa laba nethemba lokuba makhosi nabaphristi ezulwini. (IsAm. 20:6) Abazesiwekwaba bebafana nesigodo ‘sakaJuda,’ isitjhaba ebesihlanganisa amakhosi aserhelweni lakaDavida nabaphristi abamaLevi. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, amaKrestu azesiweko ahlanganiswa namanye amaKrestu ebekanethemba lokuphila ephasini. Bewafana ‘nesigodo sakwa-Efrayimu,’ isitjhaba ebesinganawo amakhosi aserhelweni lakaDavida namkha abaphristi abamaLevi. Zombili iinqhemezi zilotjha uJehova ngebumbano, zibuswa yiKosi yinye uJesu Krestu.—Hez. 37:24.

15. Imitjho esiphorofido efumaneka encwadini kaHezekiyeli 37:26, 27 izaliseka njani namhlanjesi?

¹⁵ Isiphorofido sakaHezekiyeli siveza bona abantu abanengi bazokufuna ukuzihlanganisa nabazesiweko ekulotjheni okuhlwengileko. UJehova wathi ngabantu bakhe: ‘Ngizobenza . . . ‘babe banengi’ begodu “itende lami lizokuba nabo.” (Hez. 37:26, 27) Amezwi la, asikhumbuza isiphorofido esanikelwa mpostoli uJwanisi eminyakeni engaba ma-700 ngemva kwesikhathi sakaHezekiyeli, athi “loyo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi uzokululela itendakhe” ‘esiqubuthwini esikhulu.’ (IsAm. 7:9, 15) Namhlanjesi, abazesiweko nesiqubuthu esikhulu, basitjhaba sinye begodu bababantu bakaZimu ngaphasi kwevikeleko lakhe.

16. Ngisiphi isiphorofido uZakariya asitjho ngokuhlanganiswa kwamaKrestu azesiweko nalawo anethemba lokuphila ephasini?

¹⁶ Ukuhlanganiswa kwamaKrestu azesiweko nalabo abanethemba lokuphila ephasini kwaphorofidwa godu nguZakariya, obekabuya ekudingisweni. Wathi “amadoda alitjhumi avela eentjhabeni” ‘bekazokukakarela umphetho wesambatho somJuda’ begodu athi: “Sifuna ukukhamba nawe ngombana sizwile ukuthi uZimu unani.” (Zak. 8:23) Igama elithi “umJuda” aliqaliseli emuntwini munye kodwana esiqhemeni sabantu, amabizo athi, “nina bantu,” namhlanjesi ajanyiselwe maKrestu azesiweko aseleko, amaJuda angokomfanekiso.  (Rom. 2:28, 29) “Amadoda alitjhumi” ajamele labo abanethemba lokuphila ephasini. “Azokukakarela” abazesiweko begodu ‘akhambe’ nabo. (Isa. 2:2, 3; Mat. 25:40) Imitjho ethi “azokukakarela” begodu ‘akhambe nani’ itjengisa ukuhlanganiswa ngokupheleleko kweenqhemezi ezimbili.

17. UJesu walihlathulula njani ibumbano esilithabelako namhlanjesi?

¹⁷ Kungenzeka uJesu bekacabanga ngesiphorofido sakaHezekiyeli sebumbano nakazihlathulula njengomelusi onqophisa izimvu zakhe (abazesiweko) ‘nezinye izimvu’ (labo abanethemba lokuphila ephasini) bebazokuba “mhlambi munye.” (Jwa. 10:16; Hez. 34:23; 37:24, 25) Amezwi kaJesu newabaphorofidi bakade alihlathulula kuhle khulu ibumbano esinalo lokulotjha uZimu namhlanjesi, kunganandaba ukuthi sinaliphi ithemba lengomuso! Ngitjho nanyana ikolo yamala ihlukaniswe yaba ziinqhenyana ezinengi, thina sithabela ikarisomraro yebumbano.

18. Njengombana kutjengisiwe encwadini kaHezekiyeli 37:28, kubayini kuqakatheke khulu ukuthi abantu bakaZimu bangabi ‘yingcenye yephasi’?

¹⁸ Amezwi wokugcina wesiphorofido sakaHezekiyeli sebumbano asiqinisekisa ngokuthi ibumbano lethu angeze laphela. (Funda uHezekiyeli 37:28.) Abantu bakaJehova babumbene ngebanga lokuthi indawakhe ecwengileko namkha ukulotjha okuhlwengileko ‘kuhlangana nabo.’ Indawakhe ecwengileko ihlala hlangana nabo, nabahlala benza izinto ezibacwengisako namkha bazihlukanisa nephasi lakaSathana. (1 Kor. 6:11; IsAm. 7:14) UJesu wagandelela  ukuqakatheka kokuzihlukanisa nephasi. Nakathandazela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Baba oCwengileko, bavikele . . . bona babe munye . . . Abasiyingcenye yephasi . . . Bacwengise ngeqiniso.” (Jwa. 17:11, 16, 17) Tjheja indlela uJesu ahlanganisa ngayo ukuba “munye” ‘nokungabi yingcenye yephasi.’

19. (a) Singatjengisa njani ukuthi ‘sibalingisi bakaZimu’? (b) Ngobusuku bakhe bamaswaphela ngaphambi kokuthi ahlongakale, uJesu wagandelela liphi iqiniso eliqakathekileko ngobunye?

¹⁹ Kusengcenyeni le kwaphela lapho uJesu abiza uZimu ngokuthi “Baba oCwengileko.” UJehova uhlwengile begodu ulungile. UJehova wayala ama-Israyeli wathi: “Kufuze nicwengeke ngombana ngicwengile.” (Lev. 11:45) ‘Njengabalingisi bakaZimu’ sifuna ukulalela umyalo lo kikho koke esikwenzako. (Efe. 5:1; 1 Pit. 1:14, 15) Ibizo elithi ‘abacwengileko’ naliqaliselwa ebantwini litjho ‘ukuzihlukanisa.’ Ngikho uJesu ngobusuku bakhe bamaswaphela agandelela ebafundini bakhe bona bazokuhlala babumbene nabazihlukanisa nephaseli elithuthukisa ukuhlukana.

20, 21. (a) Khuyini esenza sithembele khudlwana esivikelweni sakaJehova? (b) Uzimisele ukwenzani?

²⁰ Ibumbano elikhona phakathi kwaboFakazi bakaJehova ephasini loke namhlanjesi, liveza ukuthi uJehova wawuphendula umthandazo kaJesu othi: “Ubavikele ngebanga lomumbi.” (Funda uJwanisi 17:14, 15.) Kwenza sithembele khulu evikelweni lakaZimu ukubona indlela uSathana abhalelwe ngayo ukuqeda ibumbano ebantwini bakaZimu. Esiphorofidweni sakaHezekiyeli, uJehova wathi iingodo ezimbili zizokuba sigodo sinye esandleni sakhe. Kungebangelo uJehova ahlanganise abantu bakhe babumbana ngaphasi kwevikeleko lesandla sakhe, lapho uSathana angeze abafumana khona.

²¹ Khuyini ekufuze sizimisele ukukwenza? Ukuragela phambili sisebenza budisi ukufaka isandla ekubeni nobunye esikuthabelako nje. Singakwenza njani lokho? Ngokuhlala senza imisebenzi yokulotjha okuhlwengileko ethempelini lakaJehova elingokomfanekiso. Ezahlukweni ezilandelako sizokucoca ngokuthi ngimiphi imisebenzi leyo.