1, 2. (a) Yiziphi izinto ezingazwisisekiyo ezenziwa nguHezekheli? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Lokho ayekwenza kwakusitshoni?

 PHAKATHI kwamaJuda athunjiweyo ahlala elizweni leBhabhiloni kumemetheka izindaba zokuthi umphrofethi uHezekheli wenza izinto ezingazwisisekiyo. Okweviki yonke ubehlezi phakathi kwamaJuda engakhulumi lutho futhi ekhanya elesithuli. Kodwa khathesi uphongusukuma wangena endlini yakhe wazivalela. Omakhelwane bathi belokhu besamangele, bambone ephuma endlini abesedobha isitina asibeke phambi kwakhe aqalise ukusidwebadweba. Engazange ake awuvule owakhe, uqalisa ukugombolozela isitina esenza okungathi ngumduli wokuvimbezela idolobho.—Hez. 3:10, 11, 15, 24-26; 4:1, 2.

² Kumele ukuthi banengi abantu ababuya bezobona akwenzayo. Mhlawumbe bayazibuza ukuthi lokho ukwenzelani. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amaJuda la ayezazwisisa ukuthi izinto ayebona umphrofethi uHezekheli ezenza zaziyisiphrofetho sezinto ezesabekayo, ezazizakwenzakala nxa uJehova esesehlisela ulaka lwakhe phezu kweJerusalema. Kuyini okwakuzakwenzakala esizweni sako-Israyeli njalo lokho kusifundisani lamuhla?

3, 4. (a) Izinto ezintathu uNkulunkulu atshela uHezekheli ukuthi azenze zazitshengisani? (b) UHezekheli watshelwa ukuthi enzeni okwakuzatshengisa ukuthi iJerusalema yayizavinjezelwa njani?

³ UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi enze izinto ezintathu ezazitshengisa ukuthi wayezayijezisa njani iJerusalema. Angabe wamtshela lokho ngomnyaka ka-613 B.C.E. Ayezakwenza kwakuzatshengisa ukuthi idolobho leJerusalema lalizavinjezelwa njani lokuthi abantu ababehlala kulo babezahlupheka njani. Kwakuzatshengisa lokuthi abantu labo babezabhujiswa njani ndawonye ledolobho labo. a Asizihlolisiseni kuhle izinto lezi.

⁴ Ukuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema. UJehova watshela uHezekheli wathi: ‘Thatha isitina usibeke phambi kwakho ubususenza angathi uvimbezele’ idolobho. (Bala uHezekheli 4:1-3.) Isitina leso sasimela idolobho leJerusalema, uHezekheli yena emela ibutho leBhabhiloni elalizasetshenziswa nguJehova. UHezekheli watshelwa ukuthi akhe okwakungathi ngumduli wokuvimbezela idolobho, enze ledundulu lokuhlasela njalo afake lezigodo zokudiliza umduli, agombolozele isitina. Lokho kwakumela okwakuzakwenziwa yizitha zeJerusalema nxa sezigombolozela idolobho futhi zilihlasela. UHezekheli kwakumele athathe “izenge” alifake phakathi kwakhe ledolobho libe njengomduli wensimbi, ukuze atshengise indlela ibutho lesitha elalizabe lilamandla ngayo. Ngemva kwalokho kwakumele ‘akhangele idolobho’ alivimbezele. Konke lokhu akwenzayo ‘kwakuyisibonakaliso ebantwini bako-Israyeli’ sokuthi kwakuzakwenzakala into ababengayicabangeli. UJehova wayezathuma ibutho lesitha ukuthi liyevimbezela iJerusalema, idolobho elalilethempeli lakhe futhi liyisigodlo sabantu bakhe!

5. Chasisa ukuthi uHezekheli kwakumele enzeni ukuze atshengise okwakuzakwenzakala ebantwini abahlala eJerusalema.

⁵ Indlela abantu beJerusalema ababezahlupheka ngayo. UJehova watshela uHezekheli wathi: ‘Thatha ingqoloyi, lebhali, lendumba, lamalentili, lenyawuthi, lesipelithi [umhlobo wengqoloyi ongelahlonzi] ubususenza isinkwa ngakho. Isinkwa leso uzasikala udle esingamashekheli angu-20 ngelanga,’ kumbe amagremu angaba ngu-230. UJehova waqhubeka wathi: “Sengiqeda konke ukudla eJerusalema.” (Hez. 4:9-16) Lapha uHezekheli wayengasameli ibutho leBhabhiloni kodwa wayesemela abantu ababehlala eJerusalema. Akwenzayo kwakutshengisa ukuthi ukuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema kwakuzabangela ukuthi ukudla kuphele edolobheni leli. Ngalesosikhathi abantu babezakudla loba yini. Yikho lesinkwa babezasipheka behlanganisa izinto ezingajayelanga ukuhlanganiswa nxa kuphekwa isinkwa. Indlala le yayizakuba nkulu kakhulu. UHezekheli wachasisa okwakuzakwenzala ebantwini beJerusalema wathi: “Obaba bazakudla amadodana abo, lamadodana adle oyise.” Indlala yayizakuba “buhlungu angathi yimitshoko” futhi abantu ‘babezacaka babe mathambothambo.’—Hez. 4:17; 5:10, 16.

6. (a) Yiziphi izinto ezimbili uHezekheli azenzayo ezazitshengisa okwakuzakwenzakala nxa iJerusalema isibhujiswa? (b) Kungani uJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi ‘alinganise inwele zakhe futhi azehlukanise’?

⁶ Ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema labantu bayo. UHezekheli wathi esephrofetha ngendlela iJerusalema labantu bayo ababezabhujiswa  ngayo, waqala watshengisa lokho okwakuzakwenziwa nguJehova. UJehova wamtshela wathi: “Thatha inkemba ebukhali uphuce ngayo ikhanda.” (Bala uHezekheli 5:1, 2.) Isandla sikaHezekheli esasiphethe inkemba le sasimela isandla sikaJehova ngoba nguye owayezajezisa abako-Israyeli esebenzisa ibutho leBhabhiloni. Okwesibili okwenziwa nguHezekheli kwakutshengisa lokho okwakuzakwenzakala kumaJuda. UJehova wathi kuye: “Phuca ikhanda lakho lendevu.” Ukuphuca kukaHezekheli ikhanda kwakutshengisa indlela amaJuda ayezahlaselwa ngayo atshabalaliswe. UHezekheli watshelwa lokuthi ‘athathe isikali alinganise inwele zakhe azehlukanise.’ Lokho kwakutshengisa ukuthi nxa uJehova esejezisa abantu beJerusalema, izitha zabo zazingasoze zibazwele, kodwa zazizabatshaya zibabhuqe.

7. UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi enzeni ngenwele zakhe futhi lokho kwakutshengisani?

 ⁷ UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi ehlukanise inwele zakhe ayezigelile zibe zingxenye ezintathu abesesenza izinto ezitshiyeneyo ngazo. (Bala uHezekheli 5:7-12.) UHezekheli wathatha ingxenye yokuqala yenwele zakhe wayitshisa phakathi kwedolobho ukuze atshengise ukuthi abanye abantu ababehlala eJerusalema babezafela “phakathi kwedolobho.” Ingxenye yesibili yenwele zakhe wayiquma ngenkemba “kuwo wonke amacele edolobho” ukuze atshengise ukuthi abanye babezabulawelwa ngaphandle kwedolobho. Ingxenye yesithathu yona wayihaza emoyeni ukuze atshengise ukuthi abanye abantu beJerusalema babezasabalala phakathi kwezizwe, kodwa ‘inkemba yayizabaxotshanisa.’ Lokho kwakusitsho ukuthi loba ngaphi lapho ababezakuya khona babengasoze bahlale ngokuthula.

8. (a) Okwenziwa nguHezekheli kwanika amaJuda liphi ithemba? (b) Sagcwaliseka njani isiphrofetho esasimayelana ‘lenwele ezilutshwana’ ezagoqelwa nguHezekheli esembathweni sakhe?

⁸ Lanxa kunjalo, kulokunye okwenziwa nguHezekheli okwakuzanika amaJuda ithemba. UJehova watshela umphrofethi wakhe wathi: ‘Thatha inwele ezilutshwana nje uzigoqele esembathweni sakho.’ (Hez. 5:3) Lokhu kwakutshengisa ukuthi phakathi kwamaJuda ayezasabalala aye kwezinye izizwe, akhona amalutshwana ayezasinda. Amanye alawo ayezasinda ayezabuyela eJerusalema ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 ethunjwe ngabaseBhabhiloni. (Hez. 6:8, 9; 11:17) Lokho kwenzakala yini? Ye kwenzakala. Ngemva kweminyaka amaJuda ekhululiwe eBhabhiloni, umphrofethi uHagayi wakuveza ukuthi amanye amaJuda ayesabalele kwezinye izizwe lawo abuyela eJerusalema. AmaJuda la ‘kwakungamadoda amadala ayebone ithempeli lakuqala’ elalakhiwe nguSolomoni. (Ezra. 3:12; Hag. 2:1-3) UJehova waba leqiniso lokuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso akutshabalali njengoba nje wayethembisile. Okunengi mayelana lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso sizaxoxa ngakho kuSahluko 9 sebhuku leli.—Hez. 11:17-20.

9, 10. Okwenziwa nguHezekheli kusikhumbuza ziphi izinto ezizakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo?

⁹ Okwenziwa nguHezekheli kusikhumbuza izinto ezibhalwe eBhayibhilini ezizakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo. Kuyini okunye esikulindeleyo? UJehova uzakwenza okufanana lalokho akwenza eJerusalema.  Uzasebenzisa ohulumende ukuthi benze into abantu abayabe bengayicabangeli. Ohulumende bazahlasela zonke inhlanganiso zenkolo yamanga ezisemhlabeni. (Isam. 17:16-18) Njengoba nje lokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ‘kwakungumonakalo ongakaze ube khona,’ ‘ukuhlupheka okukhulu’ kanye lempi ye-Amagedoni lakho kuzakuba yisenzakalo ‘esingakaze sibe khona.’—Hez. 5:9; 7:5; Mat. 24:21.

¹⁰ ILizwi likaNkulunkulu litshengisa ukuthi inengi labantu abasezinkolweni zamanga lizasinda ngesikhathi zitshabalaliswa. Abantu laba bazasuka bayezihlanganisa labo bonke abanye abantu abayabe bedinga indawo yokucatsha. (Zak. 13:4-6; Isam. 6:15-17) Okuzakwenzakala kubo kuyafanana lalokho okwenzakala ebantwini beJerusalema abasindayo ngesikhathi ibhujiswa. Basabalala bagcwala ezizweni zonke angathi ‘bahazwe emoyeni.’ Njengoba sibonile  kundima 7, lanxa basinda ngalesosikhathi, uJehova ‘wahwatsha inkemba wabaxotshanisa.’ (Hez. 5:2) Lalabo abazasinda ngesikhathi inkolo yamanga ibhujiswa bazatholwa yinkemba kaJehova kungelani lokuthi bacatshe ngaphi. Bazabulawa empini ye-Amagedoni nxa uJehova esetshabalalisa bonke abanjengezimbuzi.—Hez. 7:4; Mat. 25:33, 41, 46; Isam. 19:15, 18.

11, 12. (a) Ukuzwisisa isiphrofetho esimayelana lokuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema kwenza siwubone njani umsebenzi wokutshumayela? (b) Yiluphi utshintsho oluzakuba khona emsebenzini wethu wokutshumayela?

¹¹ Ukuzwisisa isiphrofetho lesi kuphinda kusincede sibone ukuthi kumele sitshiseke ekutshumayeleni. Sisifundisa ukuthi kumele sisebenze gadalala sincedise abanye ukuthi labo bakhonze uJehova. Phela sesisele lesikhathi esincane kakhulu ‘sokwenza abantu bezizwe zonke babe ngabafundi.’ (Mat. 28:19, 20; Hez. 33:14-16) Nxa “induku” ingehlela phezu kwezinkolo zamanga, okutsho ukuthi nxa sezihlaselwe ngohulumende, siyabe singasatshumayeli izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana lokusindiswa. (Hez. 7:10) Sizakuba angathi ‘siyizimungulu’ njengoHezekheli owake waba angathi uyisimungulu ngesikhathi ethule engatsheli abantu amazwi avela kuNkulunkulu. (Hez. 3:26, 27; 33:21, 22) Ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo zamanga, abantu “bazadinga umbono kumphrofethi,” kodwa akulanto abazayitshelwa engasindisa impilo zabo. (Hez. 7:26) Isikhathi sokuthi bathole izindaba ezinhle ezingabasindisa lesokuthi babe ngabafundi bakaKhristu siyabe sesidlulile.

¹² Kodwa umsebenzi wethu wokutshumayela uyabe ungakapheli. Kungenzakala ukuthi ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu sizaqalisa ukutshumayela ngokujeziswa kwabantu. Abantu bazathi besizwa lokho esiyabe sibatshela khona, bazwe angathi batshaywe ngamatshe amakhulu esiqhotho. Esizabe sibatshela khona kuzabenza babone ukuthi isiphelo sesifikile.—Isam. 16:21.

13. Kungani uJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi alale ngomhlubulo wesenxele njalo aphinde alale ngomhlubulo wesokudla?

¹³ UHezekheli watshengisa ukuthi iJerusalema yayizabhujiswa njani, waphinda watshengisa lokuthi yayizabhujiswa nini. UJehova watshela  uHezekheli ukuthi alale ngomhlubulo wenxele okwamalanga angu-390, abeselala ngomhlubulo wesokudla okwamalanga angu-40. Ilanga ngalinye lalimela umnyaka. (Bala uHezekheli 4:4-6; Nani. 14:34) Kumele ukuthi uHezekheli wayengalali ngomhlubulo okwelanga lonke kodwa wayelala okwamahora athile ngelanga. Isiphrofetho lesi sasiveza umnyaka iJerusalema eyayizabhujiswa ngawo. Kukhanya angani iminyaka engu-390 yokona kwabako-Israyeli yaqalisa ngo-997 B.C.E. Ngalowomnyaka, umbuso wezizwana ezingu-12 wehlukaniswa waba zingxenye ezimbili. (1 Amakho. 12:12-20) Iminyaka yokona kwabakoJuda yona kukhanya yaqalisa ngo-647 B.C.E., umnyaka uJeremiya athunywa ngawo ukuthi ayephrofetha exwayisa abantu ababesembusweni wakoJuda. Wabatshela kwacaca ukuthi ukubhujiswa kwabo kwasekuseduze. (Jer. 1:1, 2, 17-19; 19:3, 4) Ngakho iminyaka yokona kwabako-Israyeli leyesono sabakoJuda yayizaphela ngomnyaka ofananayo. Yaphela ngo-607 B.C.E. Lo yiwo  umnyaka iJerusalema eyabhujiswa ngawo njengoba nje uJehova wayetshilo. b

14. (a) UHezekheli watshengisa njani ukuthi uyamthemba uJehova ukuthi uzabhubhisa iJerusalema ngesikhathi asibekileyo? (b) Kuyini okwakuzakwenzakala iJerusalema isizabhujiswa?

¹⁴ Kumele ukuthi ngesikhathi uHezekheli etshelwa ukuthi aphrofethe ngamalanga angu-390 langu-40, kazange azwisise ukuthi iJerusalema yayizabhujiswa ngawuphi umnyaka sibisibili. Lanxa kunjalo waqhubeka ewaxwayisa amaJuda, ewatshela ukuthi kwasekuseduze ukuthi ajeziswe. Wayewaxwayisa esithi: “Isiphelo sesifikile kini.” (Bala uHezekheli 7:3, 5-10.) Lokhu wakwenza kwaze kwafika umnyaka wokubhujiswa kwawo. Wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova wayezakwenza lokho ngesikhathi ayesibekile. (Isaya. 46:10) UHezekheli waphinda wakhuluma ngezinto ezazizakwenzakala iJerusalema isizabhujiswa. Wathi: “Inhlupho zizabuya zelekene.” Izenzakalo lezo zazizabangela ukuthi emphakathini kungabi lokuthula lokuthi abakhokheli benkolo bangenelisi ukwenza umsebenzi wabo, lababusi bangabi lamandla okuqondisa abantu.—Hez. 7:11-13, 25-27.

15. Isiphrofetho sikaHezekheli saqalisa njani ukugcwaliseka kusukela ngo-609 B.C.E., kusiya phambili?

¹⁵ Ngemva kweminyaka emilutshwana nje uHezekheli ephrofethe ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, isiphrofetho sakhe saqalisa ukugcwaliseka. Ngo-609 B.C.E., uHezekheli wezwa ukuthi amabutho eBhabhiloni ayeseqalisile ukuhlasela iJerusalema. Ngalesosikhathi kwatshaywa icilongo kubizwa abantu ababehlala eJerusalema ukuthi babuye bazovikela idolobho labo. Kodwa njengoba uHezekheli wayetshilo, “akulamuntu” owahamba ‘wayakulwa.’ (Hez. 7:14) Abantu beJerusalema abazange bahambe bayevikela idolobho labo ebantwini beBhabhiloni ababelihlasela. Kungenzakala ukuthi amanye amaJuda ayecabanga ukuthi uJehova uzawavikela. Phela ama-Asiriya athi ehlasela iJerusalema, uJehova wathuma ingilosi eyafika yatshabalalisa ibutho lawo. (2 Amakho. 19:32) Kodwa khathesi akulangilosi eyabuyayo izobalwela. Ngesikhatshana nje, idolobho leJerusalema ‘laselinjengembiza yokupheka eseziko’ futhi abantu ababehlala kulo ‘basebenjengamaqatha enyama’ axhwathayo embizeni leyo. (Hez. 24:1-10) IJerusalema yavinjezelwa okwezinyanga ezingu-18 futhi isikhathi leso sasinzima kakhulu. Ngemva kwalokho yabhujiswa.

16. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyamthemba uJehova ukuthi uzaletha isiphelo ngesikhathi asibekileyo?

¹⁶ Sifundani engxenyeni yesiphrofetho sikaHezekheli esisanda kuyihlola? Esesixoxe ngakho kungasinceda emsebenzini wethu wokutshumayela kungelani lokuthi abantu basamukela njani. UJehova usesibekile isikhathi azabhubhisa ngaso amasonto amanga futhi uzawabhubhisa ngaso kanye isikhathi asibekileyo. (2 Phet. 3: 9, 10; Isam. 7:1-3) Kodwa thina kasikwazi ukuthi lokho kuzakwenzakala ngaliphi ilanga. Lanxa kunjalo, siqhubeka sisenza lokho uJehova asithume khona. NjengoHezekheli siyabaxwayisa abantu siphindaphinda sisithi: “Isiphelo sesifikile kini.” c Kungani kumele siqhubeke sibaxwayisa? Ngesikhathi sikaHezekheli abantu abanengi babengakholwa ukuthi  iJerusalema izabhujiswa. (Hez. 12:27, 28) Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, amanye amaJuda ayethunjwe eBhabhiloni atshengisa ukuthi ayefuna ukwenza okulungileyo futhi acina ebuyele elizweni lawo. (Isaya. 49:8) Lalamuhla abantu abanengi kabalandaba lokuthi isiphelo sesiseduze. (2 Phet. 3:3, 4) Lanxa kunjalo, kumele siqhubeke sibaxwayisa ngoba sifuna ukuncedisa abalenhliziyo eziqotho ukuthi bayibone indlela eya ekuphileni okungapheliyo isikhathi singakapheli.—Mat. 7:13, 14; 2 Khor. 6:2.

17. Kuzakwenzakalani ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu?

¹⁷ Isiphrofetho sikaHezekheli siphinda sisikhumbuze ukuthi nxa inhlanganiso zenkolo yamanga sezihlaselwa, amalunga azo kawasoze ‘ayekulwa’ ukuze avikele inkolo. Kodwa abantu laba bazathi benanzelela ukuthi lanxa bememeza besithi “Nkosi, Nkosi” kabaphendulwa, “izandla zabo zizaphela amandla” futhi ‘baqhaqhazele ngokwesaba.’ (Hez. 7:3, 14, 17, 18; Mat. 7:21-23) Kuyini okunye futhi abazakwenza? (Bala uHezekheli 7:19-21.) UJehova uthi: “Bazaphosela  isiliva sabo emigwaqweni.” Lokhu yikho okwenziwa ngabantu ababehlala eJerusalema futhi yikho okuzakwenzakala langesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Ngalesosikhathi abantu bazananzelela ukuthi imali ngeke ibasindise.

18. Kuyini okunye esikufunda esiphrofethweni sikaHezekheli?

¹⁸ Kuyini okunye esikufunda esiphrofethweni sikaHezekheli? Kumele sibekwazi ukuthi kuyini okuqakatheke kakhulu empilweni. Abantu beJerusalema bananzelela ukuthi kuyini okwakuqakatheke kakhulu sebebona ukuthi idolobho selizabhujiswa lokuthi impilo yabo yayisisengozini. Bananzelela ukuthi impahla yabo yayingasoze ibancede ngalutho. Balahlela impahla yabo khatshana basebeqalisa ‘ukudinga umbono kumphrofethi,’ kodwa basebephuzile. (Hez. 7:26) Thina siyakunanzelela ukuthi ukuphela komhlaba lo omubi sekuseduze. Ngakho siyakwazi okumele sikuqakathekise empilweni ngoba siyakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzazigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe. Esikuqakathekisa kakhulu yikukhonza uNkulunkulu ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi nxa sisenza njalo siyabe sibuthelela inotho ezulwini futhi inotho leyo izahlala kokuphela, kayisoze iphoselwe emgwaqweni.—Bala uMathewu 6:19-21, 24.

19. Isiphrofetho sikaHezekheli sisinceda njani lamuhla?

¹⁹ Ngamafitshane singathi isiphrofetho sikaHezekheli esimayelana lokubhujiswa kweJerusalema sisinceda njani lamuhla? Sisikhumbuza ukuthi sekusele isikhathi esincane sokuthi sincede abantu bakhonze uJehova. Lokhu yikho okwenza sikhuthale emsebenzini wethu wokwenza abafundi. Siyathokoza kakhulu nxa sibona abantu abalenhliziyo eziqotho beqalisa ukukhonza uBaba wethu uJehova. Lalabo abangakwamukeliyo lokho esibatshela khona siqhubeka sibaxwayisa njengoHezekheli owayeqhubeka etshela abantu bosuku lwakhe esithi: “Isiphelo sesifikile kini.” (Hez. 3:19, 21; 7:3) Kanti njalo sizimisele ukuhlala simthemba uJehova futhi siqakathekisa ukukhonza kweqiniso ukwedlula loba yini empilweni.—Hubo. 52:7, 8; Zaga. 11:28; Mat. 6:33.