AmaJuda ayelokhu emtshiya uJehova esiyakhonza izithombe. UJehova wazama kanengi ukuwanceda. Wathuma abaphrofethi abanengi ukuthi bawaxwayise kodwa kawazange alalele. UJehova wenzani ukuze aqede ukukhonza izithombe okwakukhona koJuda?

Inkosi yaseBhabhiloni uNebhukhadinezari yayisihlasele izizwe ezinengi. Yathi isinqobe iJerusalema okokuqala, yathatha iNkosi uJehoyakhini, izikhulu, amasotsha labantu ababesenelisa ukwenza imisebenzi ethile yabasa eBhabhiloni. Yathatha lenotho yonke eyayisethempelini likaJehova. UNebhukhadinezari wasebeka uZedekhiya ukuthi abe yinkosi yakoJuda.

UZedekhiya waqalisa emlalela uNebhukhadinezari. Kodwa izizwe ezazingomakhelwana labaphrofethi bamanga batshela uZedekhiya ukuthi ahlamukele iBhabhiloni. UJeremiya wamxwayisa wathi: ‘Nxa ungahlamuka abantu bazabulalana njalo kuzakuba lendlala lemikhuhlane koJuda.’

Kodwa uZedekiya wahlamukela iBhabhiloni ngemva kweminyaka engu-8 ebusa. Wacela abaseGibhithe ukuthi bamncedise. UNebhukhadinezari wasethuma amasotsha akhe ukuthi ahlasele iJerusalema. Afika aligombolozela. UJeremiya wathi kuZedekhiya: ‘UJehova uthe awusoze ufe njalo ledolobho alisoze libhujiswe nxa ungenza okufunwa nguNebhukhadinezari. Kodwa ungayekela abaseBhabhiloni bazatshisa iJerusalema njalo bazakuthatha  bakwenze isibotshwa.’ Kodwa uZedekhiya kazange alalele.

Sekudlule umnyaka, amasotsha eBhabhiloni angena eJerusalema njalo atshisa idolobho. Atshisa ithempeli, abulala abantu abanengi njalo athumba abanye.

UZedekhiya wabaleka eJerusalema kodwa abeBhabhiloni bamgijimisa bambamba eseseduze kweJerikho bamusa kuNebhukhadinezari. Amadodana kaZedekhiya abulawa phambi kwakhe. UNebhukhadinezari wathi uZedekhiya akhitshwe amehlo njalo afakwe ejele lapho afela khona. UJehova watshela abantu bakoJuda wathi: ‘Ngizalibuyisela eJerusalema ngemva kweminyaka engu-70.’

Kwakulabasakhulayo ababethunjwe bahanjiswa eBhabhiloni. Babezahlala bethembekile yini kuJehova?