AmaYuda ayesoloko emshiya uYehova, anqule oothixo bobuxoki. Iminyaka emininzi uYehova wayezama ukuwanceda. Wathumela abaprofeti abaninzi ukuba bawalumkise, kodwa ayengamameli. Ayesuke ahlekise ngabo baprofeti. UYehova wakuphelisa njani ukunqula kwawo izithixo?

Ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, uNebhukadenetsare, wayesoyisa zonke iintlanga awayesilwa nazo. Ekuqaleni woyisa iYerusalem, wathatha uKumkani uYehoyakin, iinkosana, amajoni anamandla namadoda angamagcisa, wabasa eBhabhiloni. Wathatha nabo bonke ubutyebi obusetempileni kaYehova. Emva koko wamisa uZedekiya ukuba abe ngukumkani wakwaYuda.

Ekuqaleni, uZedekiya wayemthobela uNebhukadenetsare. Kodwa iintlanga ezikufutshane naye nabaprofeti bobuxoki bamkhuthaza ukuba avukele iBhabhiloni. UYeremiya wamlumkisa esithi: ‘Ukuba uyavukela, baya kufa kakhulu abantu bakwaYuda, kubekho indlala nezifo.’

Emva kweminyaka esibhozo elawula, uZedekiya wavukela iBhabhiloni. Wacela ukuncediswa ngumkhosi waseYiputa. UNebhukadenetsare wathumela umkhosi ukuba uye kuhlasela iYerusalem, waza loo mkhosi wamisa iinkampu zawo apho. UYeremiya wathi kuZedekiya: ‘UYehova uthi ukuba uyanikezela kwiBhabhiloni, wena nabantu bale dolophu aniyi kufa. Ukuba akunikezeli, iBhabhiloni iza kuyitshisa iYerusalem uze wena uvalelwe entolongweni.’ UZedekiya wathi: ‘Soze ndinikezele!’

 Emva konyaka oneenyanga ezintandathu, umkhosi waseBhabhiloni watyhoboza ngaphaya kweendonga zaseYerusalem waza wayitshisa. Watshisa itempile, wabulala abantu abaninzi waza waphosa inkitha yabanye entolongweni.

UZedekiya wabaleka, umkhosi waseBhabhiloni wamsukela. Wambamba kufuphi neYeriko, wamzisa kuNebhukadenetsare. Ukumkani waseBhabhiloni wamenza wabukela oonyana bakhe bebulawa. Emva koko wamtyhaphaza amehlo waza wamvalela entolongweni, wafela apho. UYehova wathembisa amaYuda esithi: ‘Emva kweminyaka eyi-70 ndiza kunibuyisela kwikhaya lenu, iYerusalem.’

Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni kubantu abasebatsha ababevalelwe eBhabhiloni? Ngaba babeza kuhlala benyanisekile kuYehova?