1, 2. Ko e hā ʻoku ʻikai loko tokaʻi ai ʻe he kakai tokolahi ʻa e laó, ka ʻe anga-fēfē nai ʻetau hoko ʻo ongoʻi fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi lao ʻa e ʻOtuá?

 “KO E laó ko ha luo taʻehanotakele, ʻokú ne . . . keina ʻa e meʻa kotoa pē.” Naʻe hā ʻa e fakamatala ko iá ʻi ha tohi naʻe pulusi ʻi he 1712. Naʻe fakamaʻamaʻaʻi ai ʻe hono tokotaha faʻu-tohí ha sisitemi fakalao ʻa ia naʻe tautoloi ai ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻa e ngaahi hopo ʻi he ngaahi fakamaauʻangá ʻi ha ngaahi taʻu, ʻo fakafaingataʻaʻiaʻi ai ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku kumi ki he fakamaau totonú. ʻI he ngaahi fonua lahi, ʻoku mātuʻaki fihi ai ʻa e ngaahi sisitemi fakalaó mo fakaefakamāú, hulu fau ai ʻa e fakamaau taʻetotonú, tomuʻa fehiʻá, mo e ngaahi taʻehuʻufatahá, ʻa ia kuo hoko ai ʻo mafolalahia ʻa e talangataʻa ki he laó.

² ʻI hono kehe mei he meʻa kuo lave ki aí, fakakaukau angé ki he ngaahi lea ko ʻeni naʻe tohi ʻi he taʻu nai ʻe 2,700 kuo maliu atú: “ʻOi ʻeku ʻofa ki hoʻo lao na!” (Sāme 119:97) Ko e hā naʻe ongoʻi ʻofa mālohi pehē ai ʻa e tokotaha-tohi-sāmé? Koeʻuhi ko e lao naʻá ne fakahīkihikiʻí naʻe tupu ia, ʻikai mei ha puleʻanga fakaemāmani, ka meia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá. ʻI hoʻo ako ʻa e ngaahi lao ʻa Sihová, te ke hoko nai ʻo ongoʻi meimei tatau lahi ange ai mo e tokotaha-tohi-sāmé. ʻE ʻoatu ʻe ha ako pehē kiate koe ʻa e fakamaama ki he ʻatamai fakaefakamaau tuʻu-ki-muʻa taha ʻi he ʻunivēsí.

3, 4. ʻI he ngaahi founga fē kuo fakamoʻoniʻi ai ʻe Sihova ko e Tokotaha Foaki-Lao iá?

³ “ʻOku taha pe ʻa e Fokotuʻu-lao [“Tokotaha Foaki-Laó,” NW], mo e Fakamāu,” ko e fakahā mai ia ʻe he Tohitapú kiate kitautolú. (Sēmisi 4:12) Ko e moʻoni, ko Sihova pē taha ʻa e Tokotaha Foaki-Lao moʻoní. Naʻa mo e ngaahi ngaʻunu ʻa e ngaahi nāunau fakahēvaní ʻoku puleʻi ia ʻe heʻene “ngaahi lao fakalangí.” (Siope 38:33, The New Jerusalem Bible) ʻOku pehē pē ʻa hono puleʻi ʻo e fuʻu tokolahi ʻo e kau ʻāngelo māʻoniʻoní ʻe he lao fakaʻotuá, he ʻoku fokotuʻutuʻu maau kinautolu ki he ngaahi tuʻunga pau pea nau ngāue ʻi he malumalu ʻo e tuʻutuʻuni ʻa Sihová ʻi he tuʻunga ko ʻene kau faifekau.​—Sāme 104:4; Hepelū 1:7, 14.

 ⁴ Kuo toe ʻoange foki ʻe Sihova ʻa e ngaahi lao ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. Ko kitautolu taki taha ʻoku tau maʻu ha konisēnisi, ko ha tapua mai ia ʻo e ongoʻi ʻa Sihova ki he fakamaau totonú. Ko ha faʻahinga lao ia ʻi loto, ʻoku malava ʻe he konisēnisí ke ne tokoniʻi kitautolu ke tau fakafaikehekeheʻi ʻa e tonú mei he halá. (Loma 2:14) Naʻe tāpuakiʻi ʻetau ʻuluaki ongo mātuʻá ʻaki ha konisēnisi haohaoa, koeʻuhi kae fiemaʻu pē kiate kinaua ha ngaahi lao siʻi. (Sēnesi 2:15-17) Kae kehe, ʻoku fiemaʻu ki he tangata taʻehaohaoá ia ha ngaahi lao lahi ange ke tataki ʻaki ia ʻi hono fai ʻa e finangalo ʻo e ʻOtuá. Ko e kau pēteliake hangē ko Noa, ʻĒpalahame, mo Sēkopé naʻa nau maʻu ʻa e ngaahi lao meia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá pea nau fakahoko ʻeni ki honau ngaahi fāmilí. (Sēnesi 6:22; 9:3-6; 18:19; 26:4, 5) Naʻe hoko ʻa Sihova ko e Tokotaha Foaki-Lao ʻi ha founga taʻehanotatau ʻi he taimi naʻá ne ʻoange ai ki he puleʻanga ʻo ʻIsilelí ha sisitemi Lao fakafou ʻia Mōsesé. ʻOku ʻomai ʻe he sisitemi fakalao ko ʻení kiate kitautolu ʻa e fakamaama lahi ʻaupito ki he ongoʻi ʻa Sihova ki he fakamaau totonú.

5. Ko ha foʻi seti lao lahi mo mamafa pea mo fihi ʻa e Lao ʻa Mōsesé, pea ko e hā ʻokú ke tali pehē aí?

⁵ ʻOku hā ʻoku fakakaukau ʻa e tokolahi ko e Lao ʻa Mōsesé ko ha foʻi seti lao lahi mo mamafa, pea fihi. Ko ha fakakaukau pehē ʻoku mamaʻo ia mei he moʻoní. ʻOku lahi hake ʻi he ngaahi lao ʻe 600 ʻi he foʻi sisitemí fakakātoa. ʻOku ongo ngali fuʻu lahi ia, kae fakakaukau ange pē: ʻI he aʻu mai ki he ngataʻanga ʻo e senituli 20, ko e ngaahi lao fakapuleʻanga ʻa e ʻIunaite Seteté naʻe fonu ai ʻa e ngaahi peesi laka hake ʻi he 150,000 ʻo e ngaahi tohi laó. ʻI he taʻu ʻe ua kotoa pē ʻoku tānaki mai ki ai ʻa e toe ngaahi lao ʻe 600 nai! Ko ia, ʻi he lāulea pē ki he lahí, ʻoku ʻai ai ʻe he fuʻu fokotuʻunga ia ʻo e ngaahi lao fakaetangatá ʻo valevale ʻa e Lao ʻa Mōsesé. Neongo ia, naʻe puleʻi ʻe he Lao ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí ʻi he ngaahi tafaʻaki ʻo e moʻuí ʻoku teʻeki ʻaupito ke kamata fakakaukau ki ai ʻa e ngaahi lao ia ʻi onopōní. Fakakaukau angé ki hano fakanounou.

6, 7. (a) Ko e hā ʻokú ne fakafaikehekeheʻi ʻa e Lao ʻa Mōsesé mei ha toe sisitemi lao kehe, pea ko e hā ʻa e tuʻutuʻuni lahi taha ʻi he Lao ko iá? (e) Naʻe malava fēfē ke fakahāhā ʻe he kau ʻIsilelí ʻenau tali ʻa e tuʻunga-hau ʻo Sihová?

⁶ Naʻe hākeakiʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e tuʻunga-hau ʻo Sihová. Ko ia, ko e Lao ʻa Mōsesé ʻoku ʻikai ala fakatatau ia ki ha toe sisitemi lao kehe. Ko e lahi taha ʻo hono ngaahi laó ko ʻeni: “Fanongo mai, ʻa Isileli, Ko  Sihova ko hotau ʻOtua ko e tahaʻi Sihova ia: pea te ke ʻofa ki he ʻEiki ko ho ʻOtua ʻaki ʻa e kotoa ʻo ho loto, mo e kotoa ʻo ho laumalie, mo e kotoa ʻo ho ivi.” ʻE anga-fēfē hano fakahāhā ʻe he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻa e ʻofa kiate iá? Naʻe fiemaʻu ke nau tauhi kiate ia, ʻo anganofo ki hono tuʻunga-haú.​—Teutalonome 6:4, 5; 11:13.

⁷ Ko e ʻIsileli taki taha naʻá ne fakahāhā ʻene tali ʻa e tuʻunga-hau ʻo Sihová ʻaki ʻene anganofo ki he faʻahinga naʻe fokotuʻu ke nau pule kiate iá. Ko e ngaahi mātuʻá, ngaahi ʻeikí, kau fakamāú, kau taulaʻeikí, pea faai mai ʻo aʻu ki he tuʻí naʻa nau fakafofongaʻi kotoa ʻa e tuʻunga mafai fakaʻotuá. Naʻe vakai ʻa Sihova ki ha angatuʻu pē ki he faʻahinga maʻu mafaí ko ha angatuʻu ange ia kiate ia. ʻI he tafaʻaki ʻe tahá, ʻe ʻi he tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki ʻo e houhau ʻa Sihová ʻa e faʻahinga maʻu mafaí kapau naʻa nau fakafeangai taʻetotonu pe fieʻeiki ki heʻene kakaí. (Ekisoto 20:12; 22:28; Teutalōnome 1:16, 17; 17:8-20; 19:16, 17) Ko e ongo tafaʻakí fakatouʻosi naʻá na fatongiaʻaki hono pouaki ʻa e tuʻunga-hau ʻo e ʻOtuá.

8. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono pouaki ʻe he Laó ʻa e tuʻunga ʻa Sihova ki he māʻoniʻoní?

⁸ Naʻe pouaki ʻe he Laó ʻa e tuʻunga ʻa Sihova ki he māʻoniʻoní. Ko e ongo foʻi lea ko e “māʻoniʻoni” mo e “tāpuhā” ʻoku laka hake ʻi he tuʻo 280 ʻene hā ʻi he Lao ʻa Mōsesé. Naʻe tokoniʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ke nau fakafaikehekeheʻi ʻa e meʻa naʻe maʻá mo e taʻemaʻá, ʻa e kinokinoifiá mo e taʻekinokinoifiá, ʻo lave ki he ngaahi meʻa kehekehe ʻe 70 nai ʻe malava ke ne ʻai ha tokotaha ʻIsileli ke ne taʻemaʻa fakaeouau. Naʻe lave ʻa e ngaahi laó ni ki he tuʻunga haisini fakaesinó, meʻakaí, pea naʻa mo e tuʻu-mamaʻó. Naʻe ʻomai ʻe he ngaahi lao peheé ʻa e ngaahi ʻaonga fakaemoʻuilelei fakaofo. a Ka naʻa nau maʻu ha taumuʻa māʻolunga ange​—ʻa ia ko hono tauhi maʻu ʻa e kakaí ʻi he hōifua ʻa Sihová, fakamavaheʻi mei he ngaahi tōʻonga angahalaʻia ʻa e ngaahi puleʻanga ololalo takatakai ʻiate kinautolú. Fakakaukau ange ki ha fakatātā.

9, 10. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi lao fekauʻaki mo e fehokotaki fakasinó mo e fāʻelé naʻe fakakau ʻi he fuakava Laó, pea ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi ʻaonga naʻe tokonaki mai ʻe he ngaahi lao peheé?

⁹ Ko e ngaahi lao ʻo e fuakava Laó naʻe fakahā ai ko e ngaahi vā fakaefehokotaki fakasinó​—naʻa mo e ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kakai  malí​—pea mo e fāʻelé naʻá ne ʻomai ha vahaʻa taimi ʻo e taʻemaʻá. (Livitiko 12:2-4; 15:16-18) Naʻe ʻikai ke fakaʻikaiʻi ʻe he ngaahi lao peheé ʻa e ngaahi meʻaʻofa maʻa ko ʻeni mei he ʻOtuá. (Sēnesi 1:28; 2:18-25) ʻI hono kehé, naʻe pouaki ʻe he ngaahi lao ko iá ʻa e tuʻunga māʻoniʻoni ʻo Sihová, ʻo tauhi ai ʻene kau lotú ke nau ʻataʻatā mei he hoko ʻo ʻuliʻí. ʻOku taau ke fakatokangaʻi ko e ngaahi puleʻanga takatakai ki ʻIsilelí naʻa nau hehema ke fio ʻa e lotú mo e ngaahi ouau fakaefehokotaki fakasinó pea mo e fakafanaú. Ko e lotu faka-Kēnaní naʻe kau ai ʻa e paʻumutu ʻa e kakai tangatá mo e kakai fefiné. Naʻe iku ai ʻo fakaʻau ki he kovi ange pea naʻe mafolalahia. ʻI hono kehé, naʻe hanga ʻe he Laó ʻo ʻai ʻa e lotu kia Sihová ʻo mātuʻaki kehe mei he ngaahi meʻa fakaefehokotaki fakasinó. b Naʻe toe ʻi ai foki mo e ngaahi ʻaonga kehe.

¹⁰ Naʻe hoko ʻa e ngaahi lao ko iá ʻo ne akoʻi mai ha moʻoni mātuʻaki mahuʻinga. c ʻI hono moʻoní, ʻoku anga-fēfē ʻa e ʻalu ʻa e ʻila ʻo e angahala ʻa ʻĀtamá mei he toʻutangata ʻe tahá ki he toʻutangata hono hokó? ʻIkai ʻoku fou ia ʻi he ngaahi fehokotaki fakasinó mo e fāʻelé? (Loma 5:12) ʻIo, naʻe fakamanatuʻi ʻe he Lao ʻa e ʻOtuá ki hono kakaí ʻa e moʻoniʻi meʻa ko ia ʻo e ʻi ai maʻu pē ʻa e angahalá. Ko hono moʻoní, ko kitautolu kotoa ʻoku fanauʻi mai ʻi he angahala. (Sāme 51:5) ʻOku fiemaʻu kiate kitautolu ʻa e fakamolemolé mo e huhuʻí kae lava ke tau ʻunuʻunu ofi ki hotau ʻOtua māʻoniʻoní.

11, 12. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e tefitoʻi moʻoni mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ʻo e fakamaau totonú naʻe pouaki ʻe he Laó? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi maluʻi mei hono mioʻi ʻo e fakamaau totonú naʻe fakakau ʻi he Laó?

¹¹ Naʻe pouaki ʻe he Laó ʻa e fakamaau totonu haohaoa ʻa Sihová. Naʻe poupouʻi ʻe he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ʻa e tefitoʻi moʻoni ʻo e tataú, pe mafamafatataú, ʻi he ngaahi meʻa fekauʻaki mo e fakamaau totonú. Ko ia, naʻe fakahā ʻe he Laó: “Ko e moʻui pe maʻa ha moʻui, ko e mata pe maʻa ha mata, ko e nifo pe maʻa ha nifo, ko e nima  pe maʻa ha nima, ko e vaʻe maʻa ha vaʻe.” (Teutalōnome 19:21) ʻI he ngaahi keisi faihiá leva, naʻe pau ke feʻungamālie ʻa e tauteá mo e faihiá. Ko e tafaʻaki ko ʻeni ʻo e fakamaau totonu fakaʻotuá naʻá ne tākiekina ʻa e Laó pea ʻi he aʻu mai ki he ʻaho ní ʻoku mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ke mahinoʻi ʻa e feilaulau huhuʻi ʻa Kalaisi Sīsuú, ʻo hangē ko ia ʻe fakahaaʻi mai ʻi he Vahe 14.​—1 Timote 2:5, 6.

¹² Naʻe toe fakakau ʻi he Laó ʻa e ngaahi maluʻi mei hono mioʻi ʻo e fakamaau totonú. Ko e fakatātaá, naʻe fiemaʻu ʻo ʻikai toe siʻi hifo ʻi he ongo fakamoʻoni ʻe toko ua kae lava ke fakamoʻoniʻi ʻa e tonu ʻo ha tukuakiʻi. Ko e tautea ki he fuakava loí naʻe mamafa. (Teutalōnome 19:15, 18, 19) Ko e kākaá mo e totongi fufuú naʻe tapui fefeka foki mo ia. (Ekisoto 23:8; Teutalōnome 27:25) Naʻa mo ʻenau ngaahi ngāue fakapisinisí, naʻe pau ki he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ke nau pouaki ʻa e tuʻunga māʻolunga ʻo e fakamaau totonu ʻa Sihová. (Livitiko 19:35, 36; Teutalōnome 23:19, 20) Ko e sisitemi fakalao māʻolunga mo faitotonu ko iá ko ha tāpuaki lahi ia ki ʻIsileli!

13, 14. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa hono poupouʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e tōʻongafai totonu fekauʻaki mo ha tokotaha kaihaʻa pea mo ʻene tokotaha mamahí?

¹³ Ko ha ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni fefeka mo taʻefaimeesi ʻa e Lao ʻa Mōsesé? ʻIkai ʻaupito! Naʻe fakamānavaʻi ʻa Tuʻi Tēvita ke ne tohi: “Ko e lao ʻa Sihova ʻoku haohaoa.” (Sāme 19:7) Hangē ko ia naʻá ne ʻilo lelei ki aí, naʻe poupouʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e mēsí mo e tōʻongafai taʻefilifilimānakó. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻene fai iá?

¹⁴ ʻI he ngaahi fonua ʻe niʻihi ʻi he ʻahó ni, ʻoku hangē ʻoku fakahaaʻi ʻe he laó ia ha fakavaivai mo e leleiʻia lahi ange ki he kau faihiá ʻi heʻene fai pehē ki he kau mamahí. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻe fakamoleki nai ʻe he kau kaihaʻá ha taimi ʻi he ʻapi pōpulá. ʻI he taimi tatau, ʻoku kei faingataʻaʻia pē nai ʻa e kau mamahí ʻi he mole ʻenau koloá, neongo ia kuo pau ke nau kei totongi pē ʻa e ngaahi tukuhau ko ia ʻoku tauhi mo fafangaʻi ai ʻa e kau faihia peheé. ʻI ʻIsileli ʻo e kuonga muʻá, naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ai ha ngaahi ʻapi pōpula ia ai ʻo hangē ko ia ʻoku tau ʻilo ki ai ʻi he ʻaho ní. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi fakangatangata fefeka fekauʻaki mo e mafatukituki ʻo e ngaahi tauteá. (Teutalōnome 25:1-3) Naʻe pau ki ha tokotaha kaihaʻa ke ne totongi fakafoki ki he tokotaha mamahí ʻa e  meʻa naʻe kaihaʻasí. Tānaki atu ki ai, naʻe pau ke fai ʻe he tokotaha kaihaʻá mo ha toe totongi kehe. Ko e hā hono lahí? Naʻe kehekehe. Ngalingali, naʻe fakafuofua lelei ʻe he kau fakamāú ha ngaahi moʻoniʻi meʻa, hangē ko e fakatomala ʻa e tokotaha angahalá. Ko e ʻuhinga ia ʻoku siʻi ʻaupito ange ai ʻa e totongi fakafoki naʻe fiemaʻu mei ha tokotaha kaihaʻa ʻi he fakatatau ki he Livitiko 6:1-7 ʻi he meʻa ko ia ʻoku fakahā ʻi he ʻEkisoto 22:7.

15. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakatou fakapapauʻi mai ʻi he Laó ʻa e mēsí mo e fakamaau totonú ʻi he tuʻunga fekauʻaki mo ha taha naʻá ne tāmateʻi fāinoa ha taha?

¹⁵ ʻOku tali faimeesi ʻe he Laó ʻoku ʻikai ko e faihala kotoa pē ʻoku fai fakakaukauʻi. Ko e fakatātaá, ʻi hano tāmateʻi fāinoa ʻe ha tangata ha taha, naʻe ʻikai fiemaʻu ia ke ne totongi ʻa e moʻui ki he moʻui kapau naʻá ne fai ʻa e foʻi ngāue totonú ʻaki ʻene hola ki he taha ʻo e ngaahi kolo hūfanga naʻe movetevete holo ʻi ʻIsilelí. ʻI he hili ʻa hono sivisiviʻi ʻe he kau fakamaau tāú ʻene keisí, naʻe pau ke ne nofo ʻi he kolo hūfangá kae ʻoua ke mate ʻa e taulaʻeiki lahí. Te ne toki ʻataʻatā leva ke ne nofo ʻi ha feituʻu pē naʻá ne fili ki aí. Ko ia ai, naʻá ne maʻu ʻa e ʻaonga mei he meesi fakaʻotuá. ʻI he taimi tatau pē, naʻe fakamamafaʻi ʻi he lao ko ʻení ʻa e mahuʻinga lahi ʻo e moʻui fakaetangatá.​—Nomipa 15:30, 31; 35:12-25.

16. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono maluʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e ngaahi totonu fakafoʻituitui ʻe niʻihi?

¹⁶ Naʻe maluʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e ngaahi totonu fakafoʻituituí. Fakakaukau atu ki he ngaahi founga ʻa ia naʻá ne maluʻi ai ʻa e faʻahinga naʻe ʻi ai honau moʻuá. Naʻe tapui ʻe he Laó ʻa e hū ki ha ʻapi ʻo ha tokotaha nō ke faʻao ʻa e koloá ko ha maluʻi ki ha nō. ʻI hono kehé, naʻe fiemaʻu ki ha tokotaha tali nō ke ne nofo pē ʻi tuʻa pea tuku ki he tokotaha noó ke ne ʻomai ʻa e maluʻí kiate ia. Ko ia, naʻe ʻikai ke fai ai ha halalotoʻapi ki ha ʻapi ʻo ha tangata. Kapau naʻe ʻave ʻe ha tokotaha tali nō ʻa e kofu tuʻa ʻo e tokotaha noó ko ha meʻa talifaki, naʻe pau ke ne fakafoki ia ʻi heʻene poʻuli hifó, he ʻoku ngalingali naʻe fiemaʻu ia ʻe he tokotaha noó ke ne māfana ai ʻi he poʻulí.​—Teutalonome 24:10-14.

17, 18. ʻI he ngaahi meʻa fekauʻaki mo e faitaú, naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e kehe ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí mei he ngaahi puleʻanga kehé, pea ko e hā hono ʻuhingá?

¹⁷ Naʻa mo e faitaú naʻe puleʻi ia ʻi he malumalu ʻo e Laó. Naʻe fiemaʻu ki he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ke nau faitau, ʻo ʻikai ki hano fakalato ha holi pē ki ha mālohi pe ikuna, ka ke ngāue ko e kau fakafofonga  ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he “ngaahi Tau ʻa Sihova.” (Nōmipa 21:14) ʻI he ngaahi tuʻunga lahi, naʻe pau ki he kau ʻIsilelí ke nau ʻuluaki fai ha ngaahi fokotuʻu atu ki ha tukulolo. Kapau naʻe talitekeʻi ʻe ha kolo ʻa e fokotuʻu atú, naʻe malava leva ke ʻākoloʻi ia ʻe ʻIsileli​—kae fakatatau ki he ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ʻa e ʻOtuá. ʻI he ʻikai ke hangē ko e kau sōtia tokolahi ʻi he kotoa ʻo e hisitōliá, naʻe ʻikai fakaʻatā ki he kau tangata ʻi he kau tau ʻa ʻIsilelí ke nau tohotohoʻi ʻa e kakai fefiné pe kau ʻi ha tāmate noaʻia pē. Naʻe aʻu ʻo fiemaʻu ke nau tokaʻi ʻa e ʻātakaí, ʻo ʻoua ʻe tā hifo ʻa e ʻuluʻakau fua ʻa e filí. d Naʻe ʻikai ke maʻu ʻe he kau tau kehé ia ha ngaahi fakangatangata pehē.​—Teutalonome 20:10-15, 19, 20; 21:10-13.

¹⁸ ʻOkú ke ongoʻi fakaliliʻa ʻi hoʻo fanongo ʻoku akoʻi ʻa e fānaú ʻi he ngaahi fonua ʻe niʻihi ke hoko ko e kau sōtiá? ʻI ʻIsileli ʻo e kuonga muʻá, naʻe ʻikai ha tangata ʻi lalo hifo ʻi he taʻu 20 naʻe fakakau ki he kau taú. (Nōmipa 1:2, 3) Naʻa mo ha tangata lahi naʻe fakaʻatā ia kapau naʻá ne faingataʻaʻia tupu mei ha ilifia tōtuʻa. Naʻe fakaʻatā ha tangata toki mali foʻou ʻi ha foʻi taʻu kakato koeʻuhi ki muʻa ke ne kamata ʻi ha ngāue fakatuʻutāmaki peheé, te ne sio nai ki hano fanauʻi mai ha ʻea. ʻI he foungá ni, naʻe fakamatalaʻi ʻe he Laó, ʻe malava ʻe ha husepāniti kei siʻi ke ʻai hono uaifi foʻoú ke ne “fiefia.”​—Teutalonome 20:5, 6, 8; 24:5.

19. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi tokonaki naʻe fakakau ʻi he Laó ki he maluʻi ʻo e kakai fefiné, fānaú, ngaahi fāmilí, kau uitoú, pea mo e kau paeá?

¹⁹ Naʻe toe maluʻi ʻe he Laó ʻa e kakai fefiné, fānaú, mo e ngaahi fāmilí, ʻo tokangaʻi kinautolu. Naʻá ne tuʻutuʻuni ki he ngaahi mātuʻá ke nau fai ki heʻenau fānaú ha tokanga mo e fakahinohino tuʻumaʻu ʻi he ngaahi meʻa fakalaumālié. (Teutalōnome 6:6, 7) Naʻá ne tapui ʻa e founga kotoa pē ʻo e hia fakamalaʻiá, ʻo ʻi he malumalu ʻo e tautea maté. (Livitiko, vahe 18) Naʻe pehē pē ʻene tapui ʻa e tonó, ʻa ia ʻokú ne māʻunga maumauʻi ʻa e ngaahi fāmilí mo fakaʻauha honau tuʻunga malú mo e ngeiá. Naʻe tokonaki ʻe he Laó maʻá e kau uitoú mo e kau paeá pea tapui ʻi he ngaahi fakalea mālohi tahá ʻa hono ngaohikoviʻi kinautolú.​—Ekisoto 20:14; 22:22-24.

20, 21. (a) Ko e hā naʻe fakaʻatā ai ʻe he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ʻa e mali tokolahí ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau ʻIsilelí? (e) ʻI he fekauʻaki mo e vete malí, ko e hā naʻe kehe ai ʻa e Laó ia mei he tuʻunga naʻe toe fakafoki mai ki mui ʻe Sīsuú?

 ²⁰ Kae kehe, ʻi he fekauʻaki mo e meʻá ni, ʻe fifili nai ha niʻihi, ‘Ko e hā naʻe fakaʻatā ai ʻe he Laó ʻa e mali tokolahí?’ (Teutalōnome 21:15-17) ʻOku fiemaʻu ke tau fakakaukau ki he ngaahi lao peheé ʻi loto ʻi he puipuituʻa ʻo e taimi ko iá. Ko e faʻahinga ko ia ʻoku nau fakamāuʻi ʻa e Lao ʻa Mōsesé mei he anga ʻo e fakakaukau ʻo e ngaahi taimi mo e ngaahi anga fakafonua ʻo onopōní kuo pau ke nau maʻuhala ia. (Palōveepi 18:13) Ko e tuʻunga ʻa Sihova, ʻa ia naʻe fokotuʻu talu mei ʻĪtení, naʻe ʻai ai ʻa e malí ko ha haʻi tuʻuloa ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e husepāniti pē ʻe taha mo e uaifi pē ʻe taha. (Sēnesi 2:18, 20-24) Kae kehe, ʻi he aʻu mai ki he taimi naʻe ʻoange ai ʻe Sihova ʻa e Laó ki ʻIsilelí, ne ʻosi faiaka loloto ʻa e ngaahi tōʻonga ia hangē ko e mali tokolahí ʻi he laui senituli. Naʻe ʻafioʻi lelei ʻe Sihova ko ʻene ‘kakai kia kekevá’ te nau toutou tō mei he talangofua ʻo aʻu ki he ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni tefito lahi tahá, hangē ko ia ʻoku taʻofi ai ʻa e tauhi ʻaitolí. (Ekisoto 32:9) Naʻe fakapotopoto leva ai ʻa e ʻikai te ne fili ʻa e kuonga ko iá ko e taimi ia ke toe fakaleleiʻi ai ʻa e kotoa ʻo ʻenau ngaahi faimalí. Neongo ia, tauhi maʻu ʻi he fakakaukaú naʻe ʻikai ke fokotuʻu ʻe Sihova ʻa e mali tokolahí. Kae kehe, naʻá ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e Lao ʻa Mōsesé ke puleʻi ʻaki ʻa e mali tokolahi ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo ʻene kakaí pea ke taʻofi ʻa hono ngāuekoviʻaki ʻa e tōʻonga ko iá.

²¹ ʻI he tuʻunga meimei tatau, naʻe fakaʻatā ʻe he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ha tangata ke ne veteʻi hono uaifí ʻi ha ngaahi makatuʻunga mafatukituki lahi. (Teutalōnome 24:1-4) Naʻe ui ʻeni ʻe Sīsū ko ha fakaʻatā naʻe ʻai ʻe he ʻOtuá ki he kakai Siú “ko e meʻa ʻi [heʻenau] loto-fefeká.” Kae kehe, ko e ngaahi fakaʻatā ko iá naʻe fakataimi pē. Naʻe toe fakafoki mai ʻe Sīsū ia ki hono kau muimuí ʻa e muʻaki tuʻunga ʻa Sihova ki he malí.​—Mātiu 19:8, NW.

22. ʻI he ngaahi founga fē naʻe fakalototoʻaʻi ai ʻe he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ʻa e ʻofá, pea kia hai?

²² ʻE lava ke ke sioloto atu ki ha sisitemi fakalao ʻi onopooni ʻokú ne fakalototoʻaʻi ʻa e ʻofá? Naʻe pouaki ʻe he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ʻa e ʻofá ʻo māʻolunga ange ia ʻi ha toe meʻa. He ko ē, ʻi he tohi ʻa Teutalonomé ʻataʻatā pē, ko e foʻi lea ki he ‘ʻofá’ ʻoku hā ia ʻi he ngaahi tuʻunga kehekehe ʻo laka hake ʻi he tuʻo 20. “Te ke ʻofa ki ho kaungaʻapi, ʻo hange ko hoʻo ʻofa kiate koe” ʻa e fekau  hono ua lahi taha ʻi he kotoa ʻo e Laó. (Livitiko 19:18; Mātiu 22:37-40) Naʻe fiemaʻu ki he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ke nau fakahāhā ʻa e ʻofa peheé ʻo ʻikai ʻiate kinautolu pē kae toe pehē foki ki he kau muli ʻi honau lotolotongá, ʻo manatuʻi naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e taimi naʻe hoko ai ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí ko e kau muli. Naʻe fiemaʻu ke nau fakahāhā ʻa e ʻofa ki he masivá mo e faingataʻaʻiá, ʻo tokoniʻi fakamatelie kinautolu pea fakaʻehiʻehi mei he kai melie ʻi he funga ʻo ʻenau vaivaí. Naʻe aʻu ʻo fakahinohino kiate kinautolu ke ngaohileleiʻi mo fakaʻatuʻi ʻa e fanga manu fua kavengá.​—Ekisoto 23:6; Livitiko 19:14, 33, 34; Teutalōnome 22:4, 10; 24:17, 18.

23. Naʻe ueʻi ʻa e tokotaha-tohi ʻo e Sāme 119 ke ne fai ʻa e hā, pea ko e hā nai te tau fakapapauʻi ke faí?

²³ Ko e hā ha toe puleʻanga naʻe tāpuakiʻi ʻaki ha sisitemi fakalao pehē? ʻOku ʻikai ha ofo ʻi hono tohi ʻe he tokotaha-tohi-sāmé: “ʻOi ʻeku ʻofa ki hoʻo lao na!” Kae kehe, ko ʻene ʻofá naʻe ʻikai ko ha ongoʻi pē. Naʻá ne ueʻi ia ke ne fai ha meʻa, he naʻá ne feinga ke talangofua ki he lao ko iá pea ke moʻuiʻaki ia. ʻIkai ngata aí, naʻá ne hoko atu: “ʻOku ou fakalaulauloto ki [hoʻo laó] he ʻaho kotoa.” (Sāme 119:11, 97) ʻIo, naʻá ne fakamoleki maʻu pē ha taimi ki hono ako ʻa e ngaahi lao ʻa Sihová. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua ʻi heʻene fai iá, naʻe tupulekina ai ʻene ʻofa ʻiate kinautolú. ʻI he taimi tatau pē, ko ʻene ʻofa ki he Tokotaha Foaki-Laó, ʻa Sihova ko e ʻOtuá, naʻe tupulaki mo ia foki. ʻI hoʻo hokohoko atu ke ako ʻa e lao ʻa e ʻOtuá, ʻofa ke ke tupulaki ai pē mo koe ʻo toe ofi ange kia Sihova, ko e Tokotaha Foaki-Lao Lahí pea ko e ʻOtua ʻo e fakamaau totonú.