1-3. (a) Umbono wethempeli elikhulu wamnceda njani uHezekheli? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni lesi?

 KHATHESI uHezekheli useleminyaka engu-50. Usehlale iminyaka engu-25 eBhabhiloni ethunjiwe. Ithempeli leJerusalema selilesikhathi eside lingamanxiwa. Nxa uHezekheli ubelethemba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga laye uzakuba ngumphristi asebenze ethempelini, ithemba lelo seliphelele emoyeni. Phela kusele iminyaka engaba ngu-56 ukuthi amaJuda akhululwe ekuthunjweni. Ngakho uHezekheli uyakwazi ukuthi ngesikhathi abantu bakaJehova bebuyela elizweni labo, yena angabe esefile. Yikho kungenzakala ukuthi kasoze alibone ithempeli lisakhiwa kutsha. (Jer. 25:11) Mhlawumbe uyadana nxa ecabanga ngalokho.

² Kusenjalo uJehova utshengisa uHezekheli umbono omangalisayo ozamduduza futhi umnike ithemba. Embonweni lo uJehova uthwala umphrofethi uHezekheli ambuyisele elizweni lakibo, afike ambeke entabeni ende. Uthi esentabeni leyo, abone ‘indoda ekhazimula angathi yikhopha.’ Indoda le yingilosi. Iyamthatha imbhodise imtshengisa izakhiwo ezinkulu futhi ezimangalisayo. Izakhiwo lezo ngezethempeli. (Bala uHezekheli 40:1-4.) Lanxa lokhu kungumbono, kuHezekheli kungathi yinto eyenzakalayo sibili. Akubonayo  kuyaluqinisa kakhulu ukholo lwakhe. Kodwa kumtshiya emangele njalo ezibuza imibuzo. Lanxa ithempeli alibonayo lihambelana lalelo elaliseJerusalema, kulezinto ezinengi azibonayo ezazingekho ethempelini leJerusalema.

³ Umbono lo omangalisayo utholakala ezahlukweni ezingu-9 zokucina zebhuku likaHezekheli. Khathesi asixoxeni ngokuthi kuyini okumele sikunanzelele nxa sizama ukuzwisisa okutshiwo ngumbono lowo. Ngemva kwalokho sizaxoxa ngokuthi ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli yilo yini ithempeli elikhulu elachasiswa ngumphostoli uPhawuli. Sizabona lokuthi umbono wethempeli wamnceda njani uHezekheli kanye lamanye amaJuda ayethunjiwe.

4. Umbono wethempeli wawuchasiswa njani kudala kodwa kuyini osekufanele sikwenze?

⁴ Kudala amabhuku ethu ayesithi uHezekheli wabona ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu futhi yilo elachasiswa ngumphostoli uPhawuli ngesikhathi ebhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru incwadi. a Yikho sasikubona kulengqondo ukuthi sichasise ukuthi izinto ezitshiyeneyo ezazisethempelini elabonwa nguHezekheli zimelani. Izinto lezo sasizichasisa silandela indlela uPhawuli achasisa ngayo ithabanikeli. Kodwa ngemva kokucabangisisa lokuthandaza ngendaba le, sikubone kufanele ukuthi sitshintshe indlela esichasisa ngayo umbono lo, siwuchasise ngendlela elula.

5, 6. (a) Umphostoli uPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi uthobekile ngesikhathi ebhala ngethabanikeli? (b) Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathini ngezinye izinto ezazisethabanikeli futhi singamlingisela njani nxa sihlola umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli?

⁵ Akumelanga sizihluphe ngokudinga ukuthi yonke into eyabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni wethempeli imelani. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Ngesikhathi umphostoli uPhawuli ekhuluma ngethabanikeli langethempeli likaJehova elikhulu waqamba ezinye izinto ezazisethabanikeli. Wakhuluma ngesitsha segolide sokutshisela impepha, langesivalo sebhokisi kanye lembiza yegolide eyayilemana. Wachasisa yini ukuthi izinto zonke lezo zimelani? Kukhanya uJehova kazange amphefumulele ukuthi achasise ukuthi izinto lezo zimelani. Yikho uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Khathesi ayisiso isikhathi sokukhuluma konke okumayelana lezinto lezi.” (Heb. 9:4, 5) Wazithoba wakhuluma lokho ayekuvezelwe nguJehova kuphela. Watshengisa ukuthi wayezimisele ukukhokhelwa ngumoya ongcwele.—Heb. 9:8.

⁶ Lathi kumele silingisele umphostoli uPhawuli nxa sihlola ukuthi umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli utshoni. Kunengi uHezekheli akubonayo. Kungaba kuhle ukulindela ukuthi uJehova asicacisele ngesikhathi sakhe esifaneleyo ukuthi izinto lezo zimelani. (Bala uMikha 7:7.) Kodwa lokho sekusitsho ukuthi akulalutho yini uJehova aselucacisile mayelana lombono lo? Hatshi, kukhona asesincedise ukuthi sikwazi!

7, 8. (a) Khathesi sesiwuzwisisa njani umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli? (b) Ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni litshiyene njani lalelo elachasiswa ngumphostoli uPhawuli?

⁷ Njengoba sike satsho, okweminyaka eminengi amabhuku ethu abesithi uHezekheli wabona ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu elachasiswa  ngumphostoli uPhawuli encwadini ayibhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru. Kodwa nxa sihlolisisa, sithola ukuthi uHezekheli kazange abone ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu. Kungani sisitsho njalo?

⁸ Okokuqala, indlela uHezekheli achasisa ngayo ithempeli alibonayo ayihambelani lendlela uPhawuli achasisa ngayo ithabanikeli. Umphostoli uPhawuli waveza ukuthi ithabanikeli elalikhona ngesikhathi sikaMosi laliyisithunzi salokho okuzayo okuqakatheke kakhulu. Ithabanikeli, lethempeli likaSolomoni kanye lelikaZerubhabheli kwakwakhiwe ngendlela efananayo. Konke ‘kwakuleNgcwelengcwele.’ UPhawuli wathi indawo leyo ‘yindawo engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla.’ Kazange athi yiyo indawo yoqobo kodwa wathi ‘ingumfanekiso wendawo yoqobo.’ Manje yiphi indawo le yoqobo ayekhuluma ngayo? Wathi ‘kusezulwini ngokwalo.’ (Heb. 9:3, 24) UHezekheli yena wabona izulu yini? Hatshi. Akulalutho esilubona embonweni kaHezekheli olutshengisa ukuthi wayebona izinto ezisezulwini.—Khangela loDanyeli 7:9, 10, 13, 14.

9, 10. Yiwuphi omunye umehluko okhona phakathi kwethempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni lethempeli elikhulu elachasiswa ngumphostoli uPhawuli?

⁹ Kulokunye futhi okwenza sibone ukuthi kulomehluko omkhulu phakathi kwethempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli lalelo elachasiswa ngumphostoli uPhawuli. UHezekheli wezwa abantu, labakhokheli labaphristi bephiwa imilayo eminengi eyayimayelana lokwenza imihlatshelo. Kwakumele benze imihlatshelo yezono zabo kanye lemihlatshelo yobudlelwano. Nxa besenza imihlatshelo yobudlelwano babengadla eyinye inyama yemihlatshelo leyo ezindlini zokudlela ezazisethempelini. (Hez. 43:18, 19; 44:11, 15, 27; 45:15-20, 22-25) Imihlatshelo le eyayisenziwa kanenginengi iyenziwa yini ethempelini likaJehova elikhulu?

¹⁰ Sithola impendulo elula futhi ecacileyo emazwini kaPhawuli. Wabhala wathi: “UKhristu wathi efika engumphristi omkhulu wezinto ezinhle esezenzakele, wadabula phakathi kwetende elingcono lelipheleleyo kulelakuqala, njalo elingenziwanga ngezandla, elingayisilo ngxenye yezinto lezi ezidaliweyo. Wangena endaweni engcwele kwaba kanye kuphela elegazi lakhe hatshi igazi lembuzi lelamajongosi, wenza ukuthi sikhululwe kuze kube nini lanini.” (Heb. 9:11, 12) Ethempelini likaJehova elikhulu kwanikelwa ngomhlatshelo owodwa kuphela. Umhlatshelo lo yinhlawulo eyenziwa nguJesu Khristu uMphristi Omkhulu. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni ayisilo ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu ngoba kulo kwakuhlala kunikelwa ngembuzi langamajongosi.

11. Kungani ngensuku zikaHezekheli kwakungayisiso isikhathi sokuthi uNkulunkulu aveze iqiniso elimayelana lethempeli lakhe elikhulu?

¹¹ Okwesibili okwenza sithi uHezekheli kabonanga ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu yikuthi ngesikhathi sikaHezekheli, sasingakafiki isikhathi sokuthi uJehova acacisele abantu bakhe iqiniso elimayelana lomhlatshelo kaJesu. Khumbula ukuthi uHezekheli kwakumele atshele amaJuda ayeseBhabhiloni lokho ayekubonile. AmaJuda lawo ayengaphansi koMthetho kaMosi. Yikho kwakumele ukuthi nxa angabuyela eJerusalema afike akhonze uNkulunkulu elandela uMthetho lo njalo akhe ithempeli le-alithare, aqhubeke enikela imihlatshelo lapho.  Lokhu akwenza okweminyaka engaba ngu-600. Ubona angani amaJuda ayezaphatheka njani aluba uHezekheli wawatshela ngethempeli likaJehova elikhulu? Phela ethempelini lelo umphristi omkhulu wayezanikela ngempilo yakhe okwakuzakwenza ukuthi yonke eminye imihlatshelo ingasenziwa. Babengeke bakuzwisise lokhu. Mhlawumbe babezahle bayekele lokulalela uMthetho kaMosi. Ngakho singaphetha ngokuthi uJehova kazange atshengise uHezekheli ithempeli lakhe elikhulu ngoba uvezela abantu bakhe iqiniso ngesikhathi esifaneleyo futhi sebekulungele ukulamukela.

12-14. Ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli lingenelana njani lalokho okwachasiswa ngumphostoli uPhawuli ngethempeli likaJehova elikhulu? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “Amathempeli Atshiyeneyo Asinika Izifundo Ezitshiyeneyo.”

¹² Manje umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli ungenelana njani lendlela umphostoli uPhawuli achasisa ngayo ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu? Into okumele siyikhumbule yikuthi uPhawuli wachasisa ithempeli elikhulu likaJehova esebenzisa ithabanikeli langezinsuku zikaMosi, hatshi ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni. Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi uPhawuli wathi ebhala waqamba ezinye izinto ezazikhona ethempelini likaSolomoni lelikaZerubhabheli kanye lalezo ezabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni. Kodwa lokho yena ayekuchasisa kwakutshiyene lalokho okwakutshiwo ngumbono kaHezekheli wethempeli. b Lanxa bengabhalanga ngezinto ezifananayo, abakubhalayo kuyangenelana. Njani?

 ¹³ Umphostoli uPhawuli wayekhuluma ngendlela uJehova ahlele ngayo ukukhonza kweqiniso. UHezekheli yena wayekhuluma ngezimiso okumele zilandelwe ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. UPhawuli wachasisa ukuthi umphristi omkhulu, lemihlatshelo, le-alithare kanye lengcwelengcwele kumelani, ngoba wayefuna ukusinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova ukuhlele njani ukukhonza kweqiniso. Kodwa ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni lona lisinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova ufuna labo abamkhonzayo balandele izimiso zakhe eziphakemeyo. Embonweni lo kwachasiswa izinto ezinengi ukuze kugcizelelwe ukuthi izimiso zikaJehova ziphakeme.

¹⁴ Indlela esesizwisisa ngayo umbono kaHezekheli itsho ukuthi awusasincedi yini lamuhla? Hatshi. Kulezifundo ezinengi kakhulu esizithola embonweni lo. Ukuze sizwisise ukuthi usinceda njani, asiqaleni sibone ukuthi wawanceda njani amaJuda athembekileyo aphila ngesikhathi sikaHezekheli lamanye alandelayo.

15. (a) Yiwuphi umlayezo oqakathekileyo osembonweni kaHezekheli? (b) Okukusahluko 8 sebhuku likaHezekheli kutshiyene njani lalokho esikuthola kusahluko 40 kusiya ku-48?

¹⁵ Khathesi kasixoxeni ngemibuzo ezasinceda siwuzwisise kuhle umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli. Lokho kuzakwenza sizwisise ukuthi umbono lo wawanceda njani amaJuda ayethunjiwe. Okokuqala,  yiwuphi umlayezo oqakathekileyo osembonweni lo? Umbono wethempeli wawuveza ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa. UHezekheli wakuzwisisa lokho ngoba okusesahlukweni 8 sebhuku lakhe wayevele esekubhalile. Yikho lapho uJehova amchasisela khona izinto ezenyanyekayo ezazisenzakala ethempelini eJerusalema. Kufanele ukuthi uHezekheli wathokoza kakhulu lapho ebhala ngotshintsho olwaluzakuba khona ekukhonzeni kweqiniso oluchasiswe esahlukweni 40 kusiya ku-48 sebhuku lakhe. Ezahlukweni lezi akukhulunywa ngokungcoliswa kokukhonza kweqiniso kodwa kukhulunywa ngokuthi ama-Israyeli kwakumele amkhonze njani uJehova elandela lokho okwakutshiwo eMthethweni kaMosi.

16. Umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli wakuveza njani ukuthi okwakukhulunywe ngu-Isaya eminyakeni engaba ngu-100 eyayedlule kwakuzagcwaliseka?

¹⁶ Abantu kwakumele bakuqakathekise kakhulu ukukhonza kweqiniso ukuze kuvuselelwe, uJehova akhonzwe ngendlela efaneleyo. Kusasele iminyaka eyedlula engu-100 ukuthi uHezekheli aphrofethe, umphrofethi u-Isaya wabhala wathi: “Ngezinsuku zokucina, intaba yendlu kaJehova izamiswa iqine phezu kweziqongo zezintaba, izaphakanyiswa yedlule amaqaqa.” (Isaya. 2:2) U-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa lokuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babezakuqakathekisa kakhulu, kuphakanyiswe kube angathi kubekwe entabeni ende ukwedlula zonke. Khumbula ukuthi embonweni kaHezekheli, uJehova wabeka uHezekheli “entabeni ende kakhulu.” Khonapho yikho abona khona indlu kaJehova. (Hez. 40:2) Yikho umbono kaHezekheli wakuveza egcekeni ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa.

17. Kukhulunywa ngani kuHezekheli isahluko 40 kusiya ku-48?

¹⁷ Ake sikhulume ngalokho uHezekheli akubonayo lakuzwayo okubhalwe kuHezekheli isahluko 40 kusiya ku-48. Wabona ingilosi ilinganisa amagedi, lomduli, lamaguma kanye lendawo engcwele yethempeli. (Hez. 40-42) Kusenjalo kwenzakala into uHezekheli ayengayilindelanga. UJehova wafika ethempelini elenkazimulo enkulu. Wakhuza abantu bakhe ababesenza okubi labaphristi kanye labakhokheli. (Hez. 43:1-12; 44:10-31; 45:9-12) UHezekheli wabona umfula owawugeleza usuka endaweni engcwele uze uyethela eLwandle Lwesawudo. Loba ngaphi lapho amanzi awo ayegelezela khona, izinto ezazilapho zaziphila futhi kube lezibusiso ezinengi. (Hez. 47:1-12) Kanti njalo wabona ilizwe lisabiwa ngezilinganiso ezaziqanjiwe, futhi indawo yokukhonzela uJehova yayiphakathi laphakathi kwelizwe. (Hez. 45:1-8; 47:13–48:35) Kuyini uJehova ayefuna ukukufundisa abantu bakhe ngezinto zonke lezi? Wayefuna ukuqinisekisa abantu bakhe ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa futhi kuphakanyiswe. Wayezakuba sethempelini lakhe futhi enze ukuthi izibusiso zigelezele elizweni lonke zisuka kulo ukuze kube lempilo lokuthula elizweni.

18. Kuyini okwakumele amaJuda akunanzelele ngombono kaHezekheli wethempeli?

¹⁸ Nanku umbuzo wesibili ozasinceda siwuzwisise kuhle umbono kaHezekheli: AmaJuda ayezakubona kusenzakala yini lokho  okwabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni? Hatshi. Kumele ukuthi uHezekheli lamanye amaJuda ayethunjiwe bahle bananzelela ukuthi babengasoze bakubone mathupha lokho okwabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Khumbula ukuthi ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli ‘lalisentabeni ende kakhulu.’ Lanxa lokhu kungenelana kuhle lokwaphrofethwa ngu-Isaya, akuhambelani lendawo ithempeli likaSolomoni elalakhiwe kuyo. Ithempeli likaSolomoni lalakhiwe entabeni iMoriya eyayiseJerusalema, futhi yikho lapho elalizakwakhiwa khona nxa selivuselelwa. Kodwa intaba leyo ‘yayinde kakhulu’ yini? Hatshi, intaba iMoriya yayigonjolozelwe ngezinye intaba ezazilingana layo lezinye ezazizinde kulayo. Kanti njalo ithempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli lalilikhulu kakhulu. Lalileguma elikhulu kakhulu elaligonjolozelwe ngumduli, yikho intaba iMoriya yayincane kakhulu ukuthi lalingakhelwa phezu kwayo. Ledolobho leJerusalema lalilincane kakhulu kulethempeli leli. Phezu kwalokho, amaJuda ayethunjiwe ayengeke akhangelela ukuthi kube lomfula sibili owawuzageleza usuka endaweni engcwele yethempeli uze uyethela eLwandle Lwesawudo uhlambulule amanzi olwandle. Kanti njalo embonweni kaHezekheli ilizwe lalabiwe laba lemingcele eyayiqondile eyayisukela empumalanga isiya entshonalanga. Yikho kwakungasoze kuvume ukuthi ilizwe labiwe ngendlela okuchasiswe ngayo embonweni kaHezekheli ngoba iLizwe Lesithembiso lilizwe eligcwele izintaba. Konke  lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi amaJuda ayengasoze akubone mathupha lokho okwabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni.

19-21. UJehova wayefuna amaJuda enzeni esezwe umbono kaHezekheli futhi kuyini okwakuzakwenza amaJuda enze njalo?

¹⁹ Okwesithathu, amaJuda kwakumele enzeni nxa esezwile ngombono kaHezekheli wethempeli? Kwakumele azisole ngoba ayezananzelela ukuthi ayengazilandelanga izimiso zikaJehova eziphakemeyo eziphathelane lokukhonza kweqiniso. UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi ‘achasisele abantu bako-Israyeli ukuthi ithempeli limi njani.’ UHezekheli kwakumele abatshele konke ngethempeli leli ukuze abantu “bahlolisise umdwebo walo.” Kungani kwakumele abantu bacabangisise ngethempeli elabonwa nguHezekheli? Njengoba sesibonile, uJehova wayengahlosanga ukuthi balakhe kodwa wayefuna “bayangeke ngenxa yezono zabo.”—Bala uHezekheli 43:10-12.

²⁰ Kuyini okwakuzakwenza ukuthi umbono lo uthinte inhliziyo zabantu abaqotho baze bazisole? UJehova wathi kuHezekheli: “Ndodana yomuntu, khangelisisa unanzelele futhi ulalelisise konke engizakutshela khona ngemithetho lezimiso zethempeli likaJehova.” (Hez. 44:5) UHezekheli wezwa kanengi kukhulunywa ngemithetho lezimiso. (Hez. 43:11, 12; 44:24; 46:14) Okunye okwakukhumbuza uHezekheli ngezimiso zikaJehova yizilinganiso ezazilokhu ziqanjwa. Ngokwesibonelo kwakhulunywa kanengi ngezilinganiso zengalo eziqondileyo langezikali eziqondileyo. (Hez. 40:5; 45:10-12; khangela leZaga 16:11.) Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘izilinganiso’ litholakala izikhathi ezedlula 50 embonweni lo kuphela.

²¹ Kuyini uJehova ayefuna ukukugcizelela ebantwini bakhe ngokukhuluma kanengi ngezilinganiso, lezikali, lemithetho lezimiso? Kukhanya uJehova wayefuna bananzelele ukuthi nguye kuphela okumele atsho loba abeke izimiso zokuthi kumele akhonzwe njani. Ngakho labo ababengasalandeli izimiso zakhe kwakumele bayangeke futhi bazisole. Kodwa yiziphi izifundo okwakumele amaJuda azithole embonweni kaHezekheli? Lokhu yikho esizaxoxa ngakho esahlukweni esilandelayo futhi sizahlola ukuthi umbono lo usinceda njani lamuhla.