1-3. (a) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo? (b) Ngutiphi tintfo letine letihamba embili ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile lesitawucoca ngato? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesehluko.)

ABELA ubukisisa umhlambi wakhe. Letilwane utikhulise ngelutsandvo kusukela tatalwa. Nyalo ukhetsa letitsite uyatihlaba, futsi utinikela kuNkulunkulu tiba sipho. Lesento sekukhonta lesentiwa ngumuntfu lonesono, sitawemukeleka yini kuJehova?

² Umphostoli Pawula waphefumulelwa kutsi abhale nga-Abela atsi: “Nkulunkulu watemukela tipho takhe.” Nanobe kunjalo, Jehova akazange awemukele umnikelo waKhayini. (Fundza KumaHebheru 11:4.) Loku kuphakamisa imibuto lokudzingeka sicoce ngayo. Kungani Nkulunkulu emukela kukhonta lokuvela ku-Abela kodvwa wangakwemukeli lokuvela kuKhayini? Yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni saKhayini, sa-Abela kanye nesalabanye lokukhulunywa ngabo kumaHebheru sehluko 11? Timphendvulo talemibuto titasenta sicondze kancono kutsi kufaka ekhatsi ini kukhonta lokuhlantekile.

³ Njengobe sitawucoca kafishane ngetintfo letenteka kusukela emalangeni a-Abela kuze kuyofika emalangeni aHezekeli, naka nati tintfo letine letihamba embili letenta kukhonta Nkulunkulu kwemukeleke natentiwa kanyekanye: Loyo lowemukela lokukhonta kufanele kube nguJehova, kufanele kube sezingeni lelisetulu kakhulu, indlela  lokufanele kwentiwe ngayo kufanele ibe nguleyemukelekako kuNkulunkulu, futsi nesisusa saloyo lokhontako kufanele sibe msulwa.

4, 5. Yini leyenta Khayini waphetsa ngekutsi loyo bekatawemukela sipho sakhe bekunguJehova?

⁴ Fundza Genesisi 4:2-5. Khayini bekati kutsi loyo lotawemukela sipho sakhe bekunguJehova. Bekanesikhatsi lesinyenti nematfuba lamanyenti ekufundza ngaJehova. Yena kanye na-Abela umnakabo kungenteka bese bayofika eminyakeni lengu-100 budzala ngesikhatsi banikela tipho tabo. * Bobabili bakhula bayati insimu yase-Edeni, futsi kungenteka bebayibukela bucalu lengadze lenotsile. Akungabateki nekutsi bebawabona nalamakherubhi avimbe ekungeneni kwalensimu. (Gen. 3:24) Asingabati nekutsi batali babo babatjela kutsi Jehova wadala konkhe lokuphilako nekutsi injongo yakhe yasekucaleni ngebantfu beyehlukile kulemphilo lebesebayiphila, njengobe besebaguga futsi bebatawugcine bafile. (Gen. 1:24-28) Kwati ngaletintfo kungenteka kwenta Khayini waphetsa ngekutsi kufanele anikele ngesipho sakhe kuNkulunkulu.

⁵ Yini lenye lokungenteka yenta Khayini wafuna kunikela umhlatjelo wakhe? Jehova bekashito kutsi bekutawuvela “intalelwane,” lokunguloyo lobekayawupitjita inhloko ‘yenyoka’ lebeyiyenge Eva kutsi ente sincumo lesibi. (Gen. 3:4-6, 14, 15) Njengobe Khayini bekalitibulo, kungenteka bekacabanga kutsi nguye ‘lentalelwane’ leyetsentjisiwe. (Gen. 4:1) Ngetulu kwaloko, Jehova bekangakayekeli kukhuluma nebantfu labanesono; ngisho nangemuva kwekona kwa-Adamu, Nkulunkulu wakhuluma naye, kungenteka asebentisa ingilosi. (Gen. 3:8-10) Jehova waphindze wakhuluma naKhayini ngemuva kwekutsi sekanikele ngemhlatjelo wakhe. (Gen. 4:6) Ngaphandle kwekungabata, Khayini bekati kutsi nguJehova lokufanele akhontwe.

6, 7. Chaza kutsi kukhona yini lokubi ngelizinga lemhlatjelo waKhayini nobe ngendlela lawenta ngayo.

⁶ Kungani-ke umnikelo waKhayini ungazange umjabulise Jehova? Kukhona yini lobekuyinkinga ngelizinga lalesipho? LiBhayibheli alisho. Limane nje litsi Khayini waletsa “sivuno sakhe.” Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jehova waveta eMtsetfweni lawunika Mosi kutsi loluhlobo lwemhlatjelo belwemukeleka. (Num. 15:8, 9) Asewuphindze ucabange nganati timo. Ngaleso sikhatsi, bantfu bebadla titjalo kuphela. (Gen. 1:29) Ngenca yekutsi umhlaba lobewungaphandle kwensimu yase-Edeni bewucalekiswe nguNkulunkulu, Khayini bekawusebentele kamatima lomnikelo lebekatawunikela ngawo. (Gen. 3:17-19) Wanikela ngekudla lebekungenta umuntfu achubeke aphila, futsi bekakutfole ngekutikhandla! Nanobe kunjalo, Jehova akazange awemukele umnikelo waKhayini.

⁷ Ngako-ke, kukhona yini lebekungahambi kahle endleleni Khayini lawenta ngayo lomnikelo? Wehluleka yini kuwunikela ngendlela leyemukelekako? Akubonakali kanjalo. Leni? Ngobe ngesikhatsi Jehova angawemukeli umnikelo waKhayini, akazange amelane nendlela  lomnikelo bewunikelwe ngayo. Ecinisweni kute lapho kushiwo khona kutsi boKhayini na-Abela bawunikela ngayiphi indlela umnikelo wabo. Pho-ke beyikuphi inkinga?

8, 9. (a) Kungani Jehova angazange amemukele Khayini nobe umnikelo wakhe? (b) Yini lenakekako ngaloko liBhayibheli lelikushoko ngaKhayini nanga-Abela?

⁸ Emavi aPawula laphefumulelwe lawabhalela emaHebheru aveta kutsi sisusa saKhayini sekwenta lomnikelo besingakahlanteki. Khayini bekete kukholwa. (Heb. 11:4; 1 Joh. 3:11, 12) Kungako-ke Jehova angazange agcine nje ngekungawemukeli umnikelo wakhe, kodvwa naye akazange amemukele. (Gen. 4:5-8) Jehova unguBabe lonelutsandvo, ngako ngemusa wetama kulungisa lendvodzana yakhe. Kodvwa Khayini akazange alwemukele lusito lwaJehova. Inhlitiyo yaKhayini beyigcwele imisebenti yenyama, ‘lokuyinzondo, kucabana nemona.’ (Gal. 5:19, 20) Inhlitiyo yakhe lembi yenta kutsi naletinye tindlela letikahle lebekakhonta Nkulunkulu ngato tibe nguletingenamsebenti. Sibonelo sakhe sisifundzisa kutsi kukhonta lokuhlantekile kudzinga lokungetulu nje kwekwenta tintfo letibonwa ngulabanye bantfu kutsi sitinikele kuJehova.

⁹ LiBhayibheli lisitjela lokunyenti ngaKhayini—siva Jehova akhuluma naye, sive nendlela laphendvula ngayo, siphindze sifundze nangemagama ebantfwana bakhe nangaletinye tintfo labatenta. (Gen. 4:17-24) Kodvwa mayelana na-Abela, kute lapho sifundza khona kutsi bekanebantfwana, futsi kute lakusho lokubhaliwe eBhayibhelini. Nanobe kunjalo, tento takhe solo tiyakhuluma nalamuhla. Ngayiphi indlela?

10. Abela waba kanjani sibonelo lesihle ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile?

¹⁰ Abela wenta umnikelo wakhe kuJehova, ati kutsi nguye kuphela lokufanele awemukele. Lizinga lalomnikelo belisetulu kakhulu, wakhetsa lamanye “ematibulo emhlambi wakhe.” Nanobe lendzaba ingasitjeli kutsi lomnikelo wakhe wawunikela e-al’thare yini nobe cha, kusebaleni kutsi indlela lawunikela ngayo beyemukeleka. Lokuhamba embili ngalesipho sa-Abela, futsi lokusibonelo natsi lesingafundza kuso ngisho nobe sekwendlule iminyaka lengu-6 000, sisusa sakhe sekwenta lomnikelo. Abela wakhutsatwa kutsi bekanekukholwa kuNkulunkulu futsi bekatsandza timiso taJehova letilungile. Sati njani?

11. Kungani Jesu atsi Abela ulungile?

¹¹ Kwekucala, cabanga ngaloko Jesu lakusho nga-Abela, lebekangumuntfu bekamati kahle. Jesu bekaphila ezulwini ngesikhatsi Abela asaphila. Jesu bekayitsandza ngalokukhetsekile lendvodzana ya-Adamu. (Taga 8:22, 30, 31; Joh. 8:58; Khol. 1:15, 16) Ngako Jesu bekaniketa bufakazi bekutibonela nakachaza Abela ngekutsi yindvodza lelungile. (Mat. 23:35) Umuntfu lolungile ngulovumako kutsi nguJehova lokufanele abeke timiso letimayelana nalokulungile nalokungakalungi. Kodvwa wenta lokungetulu kwaloko, ukhombisa ngemavi nangetento kutsi uyavumelana naletimiso. (Catsanisa naLukha 1:5, 6.) Kutsatsa sikhatsi kutsi umuntfu atakhele lidvumela lekutsi  ulungile. Ngako nangaphambi kwekutsi anikele ngesipho sakhe kuNkulunkulu, kufanele kube Abela bekatiwa ngekutsi uphila ngekuvumelana netimiso taJehova. Kungenteka kutsi loko bekungasimelula. Kuyabonakala kutsi umnakabo lomdzala bekangisiso sibonelo lesihle, njengobe inhlitiyo yakhe beyiyimbi. (1 Joh. 3:12) Make wa-Abela bekangakawulaleli umyalo waNkulunkulu locondzile, futsi babe wakhe bekavukele Jehova, wafuna kutikhetsela yena kutsi ngukuphi lokulungile nalokungakalungi. (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:6) Abela wakhombisa kukholwa mbamba ngobe wakhetsa kuhamba ngendlela leyehlukile kuleyo umndeni wakhe bewuhamba ngayo!

12. Ngumuphi umehluko lomkhulu lobewukhona emkhatsini waKhayini na-Abela?

¹² Nyalo naka indlela umphostoli Pawula lakuhlobanisa ngayo kukholwa nekulunga. Pawula wabhala watsi: “Abela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatjelo lobaluleke kakhulu kunewaKhayini, futsi ngalokukholwa kwafakazwa ngaye kutsi ulungile.” (Heb. 11:4) Emavi aPawula aveta kutsi ngalokungafani naKhayini, Abela wakhutsatwa kutsi besekanesikhatsi akhonta Jehova ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni, ayinaka nendlela Nkulunkulu lenta ngayo tintfo.

13. Sibonelo sa-Abela sisifundzisani?

¹³ Sibonelo sa-Abela sisifundzisa kutsi kukhonta lokuhlantekile kufanele kusuke kuphela enhlitiyweni lenetisusa letinhlantekile—inhlitiyo legcwele kukholwa kuJehova futsi ivumelane ngalokuphelele netimiso takhe letilungile. Ngetulu kwaloko, sifundza kutsi kukhonta lokuhlantekile kudzinga lokungetulu nje kwesento sinye sekutinikela. Kufaka ekhatsi kuphila kwetfu konkhe nato tonkhe tici tetfu tekutiphatsa.

14. Kungani Jehova atemukela tipho letanikelwa nguNowa, Abrahama naJakobe?

¹⁴ Abela bekangumuntfu wekucala lonesono lowakhonta Jehova ngendlela lehlantekile, kodvwa bekangasuye wekugcina. Umphostoli Pawula ukhuluma ngalabanye labakhonta Jehova ngendlela leyemukelekako, njengemadvodza lafana naNowa, Abrahama naJakobe. (Fundza KumaHebheru 11:7, 8, 17-21.) Esikhatsini lesitsite ekuphileni kwawo, ngayinye yalamadvodza yanikela umhlatjelo kuJehova futsi Nkulunkulu watemukela tipho tawo. Kungani? Kungoba lamadvodza enta lokungetulu nje kwetento tekutinikela lokuvamile—ngayinye yawo yakufeza konkhe loko umuntfu lokufanele akwente kuze akhonte ngendlela lehlantekile. Cabanga ngetibonelo tawo.

15, 16. Nowa watikhombisa njani tintfo letine letihamba embili tekukhonta lokuhlantekile?

¹⁵ Nowa watalwa ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-126 Adamu afile; kodvwa wakhulela eveni lebeligcwele kukhonta kwemanga. * (Gen. 6:11) Kuyo yonkhe imindeni lebeyiphila emhlabeni ngaphambi kwaZamcolo, nguNowa nemndeni wakhe kuphela lebebakhonta Jehova ngendlela leyemukelekako. (2 Phet. 2:5) Ngemuva kwaZamcolo, Nowa watsintseka waze wakha li-al’thare, lokuli-al’thare lekucala lokukhulunywa ngalo eBhayibhelini, kute ente imihlatjelo kuJehova. Ngalesento sekwetsembeka, Nowa bekendlulisela umlayeto locacile  emndenini wakhe nakubo bonkhe bantfu lebebatawuvela emvakwakhe, kutsi nguJehova kuphela lokufanele emukele kukhontwa. Kuto tonkhe tilwane lebetikhona tekwenta umhlatjelo, Nowa wakhetsa “letinye tetilwane letihlantekile naletinye tetilwane letindizako letihlantekile.” (Gen. 8:20) Lona bekungumnikelo losezingeni lelisetulu kakhulu ngobe ngisho naJehova bekatsite letilwane tihlantekile.—Gen. 7:2.

¹⁶ Nowa wanikela ngaleminikelo yekushiswa kuleli-al’thare bekalakhile. Lendlela yekukhonta beyemukeleka yini? Yebo. Lendzaba itsi Jehova weva liphunga lelimnandzi lebelivela kuleminikelo, wabese ubusisa Nowa nemadvodzana akhe. (Gen. 8:21; 9:1) Nobe kunjalo, Jehova wemukela umnikelo waNowa ngenca yekutsi bekanesisusa lesihle nakawunikela. Lemihlatjelo beyingulesinye setento taNowa lebetikhombisa kutsi unekukholwa lokucinile kuJehova nasendleleni yaNkulunkulu yekwenta tintfo. Ngenca yekutsi Nowa bekachubeka amlalela Jehova futsi aphila ngetimiso takhe, liBhayibheli litsi “wahamba naNkulunkulu weliciniso.” Umphumela waba kutsi Nowa waba nelidvumela lelihle lelihlala njalo lekutsi ungumuntfu lolungile.—Gen. 6:9; Hez. 14:14; Heb. 11:7.

17, 18. Abrahama watikhombisa njani tintfo letine letihamba embili tekukhonta lokuhlantekile?

¹⁷ Abrahama bekatungeletwe kukhonta kwemanga. Lidolobha lase-Uri, lapho Abrahama bekahlala khona bekunelithempheli lebekukhontwa kulo nkulunkulu wenyeti lobekabitwa ngekutsi nguNanna. * Ngisho nababe wa-Abrahama wake wabakhonta bonkulunkulu bemanga. (Josh. 24:2) Nobe kunjalo, Abrahama wakhetsa kukhonta Jehova. Kungenteka wafundza liciniso kukhokho wakhe Shemi, lokungulomunye wemadvodzana aNowa. Shemi waphila iminyaka lengu-150 kutelwe Abrahama.

¹⁸ Kuko konkhe kuphila kwakhe lokudze, Abrahama wenta imihlatjelo leminyenti. Kodvwa ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi lesento sekukhonta besicondziswe kuJehova lokunguye lokumfanela kahle kwemukela kukhonta kwetfu. (Gen. 12:8; 13:18; 15:8-10) Abrahama bekakulungele yini kuniketa Jehova umnikelo losezingeni lelisetulu? Lombuto waphendvulwa ngaphandle kwekungabata ngesikhatsi Abrahama akhombisa umoya lovumako ngekutsi anikele ngendvodzana yakhe layitsandzako Isaka. Kuleso sentakalo, Jehova watjela Abrahama yonkhe imininingwane yendlela bekufanele awente ngayo lomnikelo. (Gen. 22:1, 2) Abrahama bekatimisele kulalela leticondziso kuze kube sekugcineni. NguJehova lowavimbela Abrahama kutsi angayibulali indvodzana yakhe. (Gen. 22:9-12) Jehova wakwemukela kukhonta kwa-Abrahama ngobe bekwentiwa ngumuntfu lobekanetisusa letihlantekile. Pawula wabhala watsi: “Abrahama wakholwa kuJehova, ngako kwatsiwa ulungile.”—Rom. 4:3.

19, 20. Jakobe watikhombisa njani tintfo letine letihamba embili tekukhonta lokuhlantekile?

¹⁹ Jakobe wacitsa sikhatsi lesinyenti ahlala eKhenani, lokulive Jehova bekaletsembise Abrahama nentalelwane yakhe. (Gen. 17:1, 8)  Bantfu bakulendzawo bebangene shi ekukhonteni lokukhohlakele kangangekutsi Jehova watsi “batawulahlelwa ngephandle.” (Lev. 18:24, 25) Ngesikhatsi Jakobe aneminiyaka lengu-77, wesuka eKhenani, washada futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi wabuya sekanemndeni lomkhulu. (Gen. 28:1, 2; 33:18) Nanobe kunjalo, lamanye emalunga emndeni wakhe besekacale kukhonta kwemanga. Kodvwa ngesikhatsi Jehova atsi akahambe aye eBetheli ayokwakha li-al’thare, Jakobe wenta njalo ngaphandle kwekungabata. Wacale watjela emalunga emndeni wakhe watsi: “Lahlani labonkulunkulu betive leninabo, nitihlambulule.” Ngekwetsembeka, wabese ulandzela leticondziso bekaniketwe tona.—Gen. 35:1-7.

²⁰ Jakobe wakha ema-al’thare lamanyenti Eveni Lesetsembiso, kodvwa umuntfu lobekemukela kukhonta kwakhe bekuhlale kunguJehova. (Gen. 35:14; 46:1) Lizinga lemhlatjelo wakhe, indlela lebekakhonta ngayo Nkulunkulu nesisusa sekwenta loku bekukuhle kakhulu kangangekutsi liBhayibheli litsi Jakobe ‘bekalungile,’ lokuligama lelisetjentiswa nakuchazwa labo labemukelwa nguNkulunkulu. (Gen. 25:27) Ngendlela lebekaphila ngayo, Jakobe wasibekela sibonelo lesihle sive sema-Israyeli lebesitawuvela kuye.—Gen. 35:9-12.

21. Yini lesingayifundza ngekukhonta lokuhlantekile kuletibonelo talamadvodza letsembekile?

²¹ Yini lesingayifundza ngekukhonta lokuhlantekile kuletibonelo talamadvodza letsembekile lesisandza kucoca ngawo? Njengawo, natsi situngeletwe bantfu, mhlawumbe nemalunga emndeni, labangasiphazamisa kutsi singasakhoni kutinikela kuJehova kuphela. Kuze simelane naloko, kufanele sakhe kukholwa lokucinile kuJehova futsi siciniseke kutsi timiso takhe letilungile ngito letincono kakhulu. Sikhombisa kutsi sinekukholwa nasilalela Jehova futsi nasinikela ngesikhatsi setfu, emandla etfu nangetintfo tetfu kuze simkhonte. (Mat. 22:37-40; 1 Khor. 10:31) Kukhutsata kakhulu kwati kutsi nangabe sikhonta Jehova ngemandla etfu onkhe, ngendlela lafuna ngayo, nangetisusa letihlantekile, usitsatsa njengabantfu labalungile!—Fundza Jakobe 2:18-24.

22-24. UMtsetfo wakugcizelela njani kubaluleka kwaloyo ema-Israyeli bekufanele anikele kuye, lizinga lemhlatjelo nendlela yekuwenta?

²² Jehova waniketa intalelwane yaJakobe uMtsetfo, lobewutayenta ingangabati kutsi yini lebekayilindzele kuyo. Kube yamlalela Jehova, beyitawuba ‘yimphahla yakhe lekhetsekile’ “nesive lesingcwele.” (Eks. 19:5, 6) Naka kutsi loMtsetfo watichaza njani letintfo letine letihamba embili ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile.

²³ Jehova wakuveta ngalokucacile kutsi ngubani lebekufanele emukele kukhonta kwema-Israyeli. Watsi: “Ungacali ube nalabanye bonkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami.” (Eks. 20:3-5) Imihlatjelo lebebayinikela kuye bekufanele ibe sezingeni lelisetulu kakhulu. Nasi sibonelo, tilwane lebetinikelwa bekufanele kube nguletiphile kahle futsi letite sici. (Lev. 1:3; Dut. 15:21; catsanisa naMalakhi 1:6-8.) EmaLevi bekazuza kuletipho lebetinikelwa kuJehova, kodvwa nawo bekufanele  atentele iminikelo yawo. Bekufanele anikele ngaloko bekakutsetse ‘kuto tonkhe tipho letinhle lebekanikwe tona.’ (Num. 18:29) Mayelana nendlela ema-Israyeli bekufanele akhonte ngayo Nkulunkulu, bewaniketwe ticondziso leticacile mayelana nekutsi bekufanele anikele ini, kuphi futsi kanjani. Naseyiyonkhe lemitsetfo beyingetulu kwa-600 futsi bekufanele icondzise indlela lebekatiphatsa ngayo njengobe Nkulunkulu bekawatjelile watsi: “Nine nibociniseka kutsi nenta njengobe Jehova Nkulunkulu wenu anitjelile. Ningabophambuka niye ngesekudla nobe ngesencele.”—Dut. 5:32.

²⁴ Bekunendzaba yini kutsi ema-Israyeli ayentela kuphi imihlatjelo yawo? Yebo. Jehova wayala bantfu bakhe kutsi bakhe lithende lekukhontela, futsi laba yindzawo lebalulekile yekukhonta lokuhlantekile. (Eks. 40:1-3, 29, 34) Ngaleso sikhatsi, nangabe ema-Israyeli bekafuna kutsi iminikelo yawo yemukeleke kuNkulunkulu, bekufanele ayiletse ethendeni lekukhontela. *—Dut. 12:17, 18.

25. Chaza kutsi yini lebeyibaluleke kakhulu mayelana nekwenta imihlatjelo.

²⁵ Nanobe kunjalo, lobekubaluleke kakhulu bekusisusa sem-Israyeli lobekanikela ngesipho sakhe! Kutsandza Jehova kanye netimiso takhe ngiko lebekumkhutsata kutsi ente lomnikelo. (Fundza Dutheronomi 6:4-6.) Nangabe ema-Israyeli bekakhonta Jehova ngobe  nje bekufanele ente njalo, Jehova bekangayemukeli imihlatjelo yawo. (Isa. 1:10-13) Asebentisa umphrofethi Isaya, Jehova waveta kutsi akakhohliswa nje tento letingasho lutfo tekumkhonta, ngesikhatsi atsi: “Labantfu . . . bayangidvumisa ngetindzebe tabo, kodvwa inhlitiyo yabo ikhashane kakhulu nami.”—Isa. 29:13.

26. Ekucaleni, lithempeli lebelakhiwe nguSolomoni belidlala yiphi indzima ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile?

²⁶ Ngemuva kwemakhulu eminyaka ema-Israyeli ahlala eVeni Lesetsembiso, iNkhosi Solomoni yakha indzawo yekukhonta lokuhlantekile lebeyiyinhle kakhulu kunelithende lekukhontela. (1 Khos. 7:51; 2 Khr. 3:1, 6, 7) Ekucaleni, nguJehova kuphela lobekemukela lemihlatjelo lebeyentiwa kulelithempeli. Solomoni kanye nebantfu labebangephansi kwakhe banikela ngemihlatjelo leminyenti lebeyisezingeni lelisetulu kakhulu futsi banikela ngendlela lebeyichazwa nguMtsetfo waNkulunkulu. (1 Khos. 8:63) Nobe kunjalo, tindleko tekwakha lelithempeli nalemihlatjelo bekungasiko lebekwenta kukhonta ethempelini kwemukeleke kuJehova. Lebekubaluleke kakhulu bekutisusa talabo lebebanikela letipho. Solomoni waligcizelela leliphuzu nakuniketelwa lelithempeli. Watsi: “Shengatsi tinhlitiyo tenu tingaphelela kuJehova Nkulunkulu wetfu ngekutsi nihambe ngemiyalo yakhe nangekutsi nigcine imitsetfo yakhe njengobe nentile lamuhla.”—1 Khos. 8:57-61.

27. Yini emakhosi aka-Israyeli nebantfu bawo lebebayenta, futsi Jehova wenta njani?

²⁷ Lokubuhlungu kutsi ema-Israyeli akazange achubeke nekulalela umyalo lohlakaniphile wenkhosi. Ehluleka kutifeza tonkhe letintfo letihamba embili tekukhonta lokuhlantekile. Emakhosi aka-Israyeli nebantfu bawo bavumela tinhlitiyo tabo kutsi tibe nguletikhohlakele, balahla kukholwa kwabo futsi balahla netimiso taJehova letilungile. Ngelutsandvo, Jehova watfumela baphrofethi kubo tikhatsi letinyenti kuze babalungise futsi babecwayise ngemiphumela yetento tabo. (Jer. 7:13-15, 23-26) Lomunye walabaphrofethi bekunguHezekeli indvodza lebeyetsembekile. Waphila ngesikhatsi lesimatima emlandvweni wekukhonta lokuhlantekile.

28, 29. Yini lesiyatiko ngaHezekeli? (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “Hezekeli—Kuphila Kwakhe Netikhatsi.”)

²⁸ Hezekeli beketayelene kakhulu nekukhonta lebekwentiwa ethempelini lebelakhiwe nguSolomoni. Babe wakhe bekangumphristi futsi ngaletinye tikhatsi bekuba ligema lakhe lekutsi ayosebenta ethempelini. (Hez. 1:3) Kungenteka Hezekeli nakasakhula bekangumuntfu lojabulile. Siyaciniseka kutsi babe wakhe wamfundzisa ngaJehova nangeMtsetfo. Ecinisweni, ngesikhatsi Hezekeli atalwa, kwatfolakala “incwadzi yeMtsetfo” ethempelini. * INkhosi Josaya lelungile futsi lebeyibusa, yatsintseka kakhulu ngaloko lebekubhalwe kulencwadzi kangangekutsiyenta imetamo kuze itfutfukise kukhonta lokuhlantekile.—2 Khos. 22:8-13.

 ²⁹ Njengalamadvodza letsembekile lebekaphila ngaphambi kwakhe, Hezekeli watifeza totine letintfo tekukhonta lokuhlantekile lebetidzingeka. Njengobe kuvetiwe encwadzini yaHezekeli, wakhonta Jehova kuphela, wachubeka amnika lokuncono kakhulu futsi wenta loko Jehova latsi akakwente, wakwenta nangendlela latsi akakwente ngayo. Hezekeli wenta konkhe loku ngenca yekutsi bekanekukholwa lokusuka enhlitiyweni. Kodvwa bantfu labanyenti lakhula nabo abazange bamlingise. Hezekeli wakhula alalela tiphrofetho taJeremiya, lowacala umsebenti wakhe nga-647 B.C.E., futsi bekecwayisa ngemdlandla mayelana nekuta kwesehlulelo saJehova.

30. (a) Tiphrofetho letabhalwa nguHezekeli tembulani? (b) Siyini siphrofetho, futsi kufanele siticondze njani leto letabhalwa nguHezekeli? (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “Kucondza Tiphrofetho TaHezekeli.”)

³⁰ Imibhalo yaHezekeli lephefumulelwe iveta indlela bantfu baNkulunkulu lebebaphambuke ngayo ekumkhonteni. (Fundza Hezekeli 8:6.) Ngesikhatsi Jehova acala kujezisa sive sakaJuda, Hezekeli bekasemkhatsini walabo labatfunjelwa eBhabhulona. (2 Khos. 24:11-17) Nanobe Hezekeli bekatfunjiwe, kodvwa loko akusho kutsi bekajeziswa. Jehova bekatamnika umsebenti lobekufanele awente kulabantfu baKhe lebekatfunjwe nabo. Lemibono lemangalisako kanye netiphrofetho letabhalwa nguHezekeli kukhombisa indlela kukhonta lokuhlantekile bekutawubuyiselwa ngayo eJerusalema. Kodvwa kuphindze kukhombise lokungetulu kwaloko, kunika kucondza mayelana nendlela kukhonta lokuhlantekile lokutawugcine kubuyiselwe ngayo kubo bonkhe labo labatsandza Jehova.

31. Lencwadzi itasisita kutsi senteni?

³¹ Kuletincenye talencwadzi letilandzelako, sitawubona kancane endzaweni Jehova lahlala kuyo, sitfole kutsi kukhonta lokuhlantekile kwangcoliswa njani ngalokuphelele, sifundze indlela Jehova labuyisela futsi wavikela ngayo bantfu bakhe, bese sihlola loko lokutawenteka esikhatsini lesitako lapho bonkhe bantfu batawube bakhonta Jehova. Kulesehluko lesilandzelako, sitawufundza ngembono wekucala Hezekeli labhala ngawo. Lombono usiniketa sitfombe mayelana naJehova kanye nencenye yenhlangano yakhe yasezulwini futsi ugcizelela sizatfu sekutsi kungani kufanele sikhonte yena kuphela futsi simkhonte ngendlela lehlantekile.