Labhujiswa Nini IJerusalema Lasendulo?—Ingxenye Yesibili

Lokho Imibhalo Yobumba Ekubonisayo Ngempela

Lesi yisihloko sesibili kwezimbili kulo magazini INqabayokulinda futhi kuzodingidwa imibuzo yezazi mayelana nonyaka iJerusalema lasendulo elabhujiswa ngawo okokuqala. Lolu chungechunge olunezihloko ezimbili luzoba nemibuzo nezimpendulo ezicwaningisisiwe ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini eziye zadida abafundi abathile.

Isihloko Sokuqala Saxoxa Ngala Maphuzu Alandelayo:

▪ Izazi-mlando zezwe zithi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E. *

▪ Uhlelo lwezenzakalo zeBhayibheli lubonisa ukuthi labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E.

▪ Izazi-mlando zezwe zisekela iziphetho zazo emibhalweni yezazi-mlando zakudala nasezincwadini zikaPtolemy.

▪ Eminye imibhalo yezazi-mlando zasendulo inamaphutha aphawulekayo futhi ayivumelani ngaso sonke isikhathi nomlando osezibhebheni zobumba. *

IBHAYIBHELI lithi izithunjwa ezingamaJuda zaziyodingiselwa eBhabhiloni ‘iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa futhi kugcwaliseke izwi LENKOSI ngomlomo kaJeremiya.’ Zakhululwa nini? “Ngonyaka wokuqala [wokubusa] kaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya.” (2 IziKronike 36:21, 22) Umlando weBhayibheli nowezwe uyavumelana ngokuthi le nkathi yokudingiselwa eBhabhiloni yaphela ngemva kokuba uKoresi enqobe iBhabhiloni futhi wakhulula amaJuda, okwathi ngo-537 B.C.E. aphindela eJerusalema. Njengoba iBhayibheli lisho ngokucacile ukuthi ukudingiswa kwadonsa iminyaka engu-70, kumelwe ukuba kwaqala ngo-607 B.C.E.

Nokho, izazi eziningi zithi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E. Uma kunjalo, kusho ukuthi amaJuda adingiswa iminyaka engu-50 kuphela. Kungani ziphetha kanjalo? Zisekela izibalo zazo emibhalweni yasendulo ye-cuneiform enikeza imininingwane ngoNebukhadinezari II nalowo owamlandela.¹ Eminingi yale mibhalo yabhalwa amadoda ayephila phakathi noma eduze nesikhathi sokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Kodwa zithembeke kangakanani izibalo ezikhomba onyakeni ka-587 B.C.E.? Ibonisani ngempela le mibhalo?

Ukuze siphendule le mibuzo, cabangela izinhlobo ezintathu zemibhalo izazi ezivamise ukusekela kuyo imibono yazo: (1) Imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni, (2) izibhebhe zezomnotho (3) nezibhebhe zezinto ezisemkhathini.

 ● Imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni.

Iyini? Imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni yizibhebhe eziningi eziqukethe izenzakalo ezinkulu emlandweni waseBhabhiloni.²

Zithini izazi? UR. H. Sack, isazi esihlonishwayo semibhalo ye-cuneiform, uthi imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni inikeza umlando ongaphelele ngezenzakalo ezibalulekile. * Wabhala ukuthi izazi-mlando kumelwe zihlole “eminye imithombo . . . ukuze zithole ukuthi kwenzekani ngempela.”

Ibonisani imibhalo? Kunemininingwane engokomlando engekho emibhalweni yaseBhabhiloni.³ (Bheka  ibhokisi elingezansi.) Ngakho, kunengqondo ukubuza lo mbuzo, Zinembe kangakanani iziphetho ezisekelwe emlandweni ongaphelele ngaleyo ndlela?

● Izibhebhe zezomnotho.

Ziyini? Izibhebhe zezomnotho eziningi zenkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha zingamarisidi angokomthetho. Izibhebhe zazinosuku, inyanga nonyaka wenkosi ebusayo. Ngokwesibonelo, esinye isibhebhe sibonisa ukuthi kwathengwa okuthile “ngoNisani 27, ngonyaka ka-11 kaNebukhadinezari II, inkosi yaseBhabhiloni.”⁴

Lapho inkosi ifa noma isuswa esihlalweni bese kubekwa enye, izinyanga ezisele onyakeni wokubusa kwayo zazibhekwa njengonyaka wokuhlala kombusi omusha esihlalweni sobukhosi. *⁵ Ngamanye amazwi, ukusuka kwenye inkosi kungene enye kwakwenzeka ngonyaka ofanayo ekhalendeni laseBhabhiloni. Ngakho-ke, izibhebhe zonyaka inkosi entsha eqale ngawo ukubusa kwakufanele ziqale ukubala phakathi nezinyanga ngemva kwenyanga yokugcina yenkosi endala.

Zithini izazi? UR. H. Sack wahlola izibhebhe zezomnotho eziningi zangenkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha. Ngo-1972, uSack wabhala ukuthi imibhalo emisha enganyatheliswanga eseBritish Museum anikwa yona “iphikisana ngokuphelele” neziphetho zangaphambili eziphathelene nokusuka kukaNebukhadinezari II  esihlalweni sobukhosi kungene indodana yakhe u-Amel-Marduk (ephinde ibizwe ngokuthi u-Evili-merodaki).⁶ Kanjani? USack wayazi ukuthi izibhebhe zazibonisa ukuthi uNebukhadinezari II wayesabusa ngenyanga yesithupha yonyaka wakhe wokugcina (wama-43). Kodwa lezi zibhebhe ezintsha ezifundekayo zangonyaka wokuqala wokubekwa kwenkosi eyalandela, u-Amel-Marduk, zazingezenyanga yesine neyesihlanu okwakucatshangwa ukuthi zingezonyaka ofanayo.⁷ Kuyacaca ukuthi kwakunephutha.

Ibonisani imibhalo? Kunamaphutha engeziwe ngokuqondene nesikhathi sokushintsha kwamakhosi. Ngokwesibonelo, imibhalo ibonisa ukuthi uNebukhadinezari II wayesabusa ngenyanga yakhe yeshumi—ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha okucatshangwa ukuthi indodana yakhe yaqala ngayo ukubusa.⁸ Kunokungqubuzana okufanayo nasendabeni yokusuka esihlalweni kuka-Amel-Marduk nokungena kowamlandela, uNeriglissar.⁹

Kungani kubalulekile ukucabangela la maphutha? Njengoba kushiwo ekuqaleni, umlando ongaphelele obhalwe emibhalweni yaseBhabhiloni usikisela ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi asinalo uhlelo lokulandelana kwezikhathi oluqhubekayo.¹⁰ Kungenzeka yini ukuthi kunabanye ababusa phakathi nokubusa kwala makhosi? Uma kunjalo, bekufanele kwenezelwe eminye iminyaka enkathini yeBhabhiloni Elisha. Ngakho-ke, imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni nezibhebhe zezomnotho akunikezi isisekelo esiqinile sokuphetha ngokuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E. *

● Izibhebhe zezinto ezisemkhathini.

Ziyini? Ziyizibhebhe ze-cuneiform ezichaza ukuma kwelanga, inyanga, amaplanethi nezinkanyezi kuhlanganise nokwaziswa okungokomlando okunjengonyaka wokubusa kwenkosi ethile. Ngokwesibonelo, umbhalo ogciniwe wezinto ezisemkhathini ongezansi unomlando wokusitheka kwenyanga okwenzeka ngenyanga yokuqala ngonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kweNkosi uMukin-zeri.¹¹

Zithini izazi? Izazi zivumelana ngokuthi abaseBhabhiloni babenamashadi amaningi nezindlela zokubikezela ukuthi ukusitheka kwelanga kwakungase kwenzeke nini.¹²

Kodwa ingabe abaseBhabhiloni babekwazi ukuthola ukuthi kwenzeka nini ukusitheka kwelanga esikhathini esedlule? UProfesa John Steele, uthi: “Kungenzeka ukuthi ezinye zezibikezelo zokuqala zatholakala ngokuba kusetshenziswe izindlela zokubuyela emuva ngesikhathi kuhlanganiswa imibhalo.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.)¹³ UProfesa David Brown, okholelwa ukuthi amashadi ezinto ezisemkhathini ayehlanganisa izibikezelo ezenziwa ngemva nje kwezenzakalo ezibhaliwe,  uyavuma ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi ezinye zalezi “kwakuyizibalo ezibala ubuyele emuva ezenziwa ababhali ngekhulu lesine B.C nasemakhulwini alandela.”¹⁴ Uma lezi kuyizibalo ezibala ubuyele emuva, kungashiwo yini ngempela ukuthi zithembekile uma bungekho obunye ubufakazi obuzisekelayo?

Ngisho noma kuthiwa ukusitheka kwelanga kwenzeka ngosuku oluthile, ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi ukwaziswa okungokomlando umbhali wesibhebhe athi kwenzeka ngalolo suku kunembile? Akunjalo ngempela. Isazi uR. J. van der Spek siyachaza: “Abaqongeleli babeyizazi zezinkanyezi, hhayi izazi-mlando.” Uchaza izingxenye zezibhebhe eziqukethe umlando “njengezinganembile ngempela” futhi uxwayisa ngokuthi ukwaziswa komlando okunjengalokhu kumelwe “kusetshenziswe ngokuqapha.”¹⁵

Ibonisani imibhalo? Cabangela isibonelo sesibhebhe i-VAT 4956. Umugqa wokuqala walesi sibhebhe ufundeka kanje: “Unyaka wama-37 kaNebukhadinezari inkosi yaseBhabhiloni.”¹⁶ Ngemva kwalokho, siqukethe incazelo eningiliziwe yokuma kwenyanga namaplanethi uma kuqhathaniswa nezinkanyezi nemilaza ehlukahlukene. Siphinde sikhulume ngokusitheka kwenyanga okukodwa. Izazi zithi konke lokhu kuma kwenzeka ngo-568/567 B.C.E. Lokho bekuyosiletha onyakeni ka-587 B.C.E., unyaka we-18 wokubusa kukaNebukhadinezari II, okuwunyaka abhubhisa ngawo iJerusalema. Kodwa ingabe le mibhalo yezinto ezisemkhathini ikhomba ngokungenakuphikiswa onyakeni ka-568/567 B.C.E. kuphela?

Lesi sibhebhe sikhuluma ngokusitheka kwenyanga okutholakala ukuthi kwenzeka ngosuku lwe-15 lwenyanga yesithathu yaseBhabhiloni, uSimanu. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ukusitheka kwenyanga kwenzeka ngo-July 4 (ikhalenda likaJulian) phakathi no-568 B.C.E. Nokho, kwakube nokusitheka kwelanga eminyakeni engu-20 ngaphambili, ngo-July 15, 588 B.C.E.¹⁷

Uma unyaka ka-588 B.C.E. kungunyaka wama-37 wokubusa kukaNebukhadinezari II, unyaka wakhe we-18 wawuyoba ngo-607 B.C.E.—okuyiwo kanye unyaka ophawulwa uhlelo lwezenzakalo zeBhayibheli njengokwabhujiswa ngawo iJerusalema! (Bheka  uhlelo lwezikhathi ngezansi.) Kodwa ingabe isibhebhe i-VAT 4956 sinikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe obusekela unyaka ka-607 B.C.E.?

Ngaphezu kokusitheka kwelanga osekukhulunywe ngakho, kunamaqoqo angu-13 esibhebheni akhuluma ngokufundwa kokuma kwenyanga nangu-15 akhuluma ngokufundwa kokuma kwamaplanethi. La maqoqo achaza ukuma kwenyanga noma amaplanethi uma kuqhathaniswa nezinkanyezi ezithile noma imilaza.¹⁸ Kunezinkathi ezingu-8 phakathi kokuphuma nokushona kwelanga nenyanga.^18a

Ngenxa yokwethembeka okukhulu kokuma kwenyanga, abacwaningi baye bahlolisisa ngokucophelela la maqoqo angu-13 okuma kwenyanga abhalwe esibhebheni i-VAT 4956. Bahlaziya abakuthola ngosizo lohlelo lwe-computer olukwazi ukubonisa ukuthi izinto ezisemkhathini zazimi kuphi ngezinsuku ezithile esikhathini  esedlule.¹⁹ Lwembulani ucwaningo lwabo? Yize kungewona wonke amaqoqo okuma kwenyanga avumelana nonyaka ka-568/567 B.C.E., wonke amaqoqo angu-13 avumelana ngokuthi yayimi kuphi eminyakeni engu-20 ngaphambili, ngonyaka ka-588/587 B.C.E.

Enye yezindawo lapho ukufundwa kokuma kwenyanga kuvumelana khona kakhulu nonyaka ka-588 B.C.E. ukwedlula ngisho unyaka ka-568 B.C.E., iboniswe esibhebheni esikula makhasi. Emgqeni wesithathu walesi sibhebhe, sifunda ukuthi inyanga yayimi endaweni ethile “ngobusuku bangoNisanu 9.” Nokho, izazi ezaqale zathi lokhu kwenzeka ngo-568 B.C.E. (ngokwezazi zezinkanyezi ngo-567) zavuma ukuthi ngo-568 B.C.E., inyanga yayimi kuleyo ndawo “ngoNisanu 8 hhayi ngoNisanu 9.” Ukuze zisekele unyaka ka-568 B.C.E. obhalwe esibhebheni, izazi zathi umbhali wabhala ngephutha u-“9” esikhundleni sika-“8.”²⁰ Kodwa ukuma kwenyanga okukhulunywa ngakho emgqeni 3 kufana ncamashi nokwangoNisanu 9 ka-588 B.C.E.²¹

Kuyacaca ukuthi ukwaziswa okuningi kwezinto ezisemkhathini okusesibhebheni i-VAT 4956 kuvumelana ncamashi nonyaka ka-588 B.C.E. njengonyaka wama-37 wokubusa kukaNebukhadinezari II. Ngakho-ke, lokhu kusekela unyaka ka-607 B.C.E. wokubhujiswa kweJerusalema—njengoba iBhayibheli libonisa.

Kungani Kufanele Wethembe IBhayibheli?

Okwamanje, izazi zezwe eziningi zikholelwa kuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E. Nokho, abalobi beBhayibheli uJeremiya noDaniyeli basho ngokucacile ukuthi amaJuda ayesekudingisweni iminyaka engu-70 hhayi engu-50. (Jeremiya 25:1, 2, 11; 29:10; Daniyeli 9:2) Lawo mazwi abonisa ngokuqondile ukuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E. Njengoba ubufakazi obungenhla bubonisa, lesi siphetho siphinde sisekelwe imithombo ethile yezwe.

Izazi zezwe ziye zakungabaza kaningi ukunemba kweBhayibheli. Nokho, lapho kwembulwa ubufakazi obengeziwe, umlando weBhayibheli ubulokhu uyiqiniso. * Labo abathemba iBhayibheli banesizathu esihle sokulethemba. Basekela imibono yabo ebufakazini bokuthi iBhayibheli linembile ngokomlando, ngokwesayensi nangokwesiprofetho. Lobo bufakazi bubenza bakholelwe ukuthi iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe. (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Kungani ungazihloleli ubufakazi ngokwakho? Kungenzeka nawe ufinyelele esiphethweni esifanayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Ishadi ekhasini 23]

 (Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IMIBHALO YASEBHABHILONI—UMLANDO ONGAPHELELE

Imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni inikeza ukulandisa kweminyaka engu-35 kuphela yenkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha, okucatshangwa ukuthi yaba iminyaka engaba ngu-88.

◻UNYAKA ONGENAWO UMLANDO OLOTSHIWE

◼UNYAKA ONOMLANDO OLOTSHIWE

BM 21901 BM 21946 BM 35382

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

INKATHI YEBHABHILONI ELISHA ABASEPHERESIYA

UNabopolassar UNebukhadinezari II U-Amel-Marduk UNabonidasi

UNeriglissar ULabashi-Marduk

↑ ↑ ↑

BM 25127 BM 22047 BM 25124

[Imithombo]

BM 21901 and BM 35382: Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum; BM 21946: Copyright British Museum; BM 22047, 25124, 25127: © The Trustees of the British Museum

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 24]

UMBHALO OGCINIWE WEZINTO EZISEMKHATHINI I-BM 32238

Lesi sibhebhe sinomlando wokusitheka kwenyanga, kodwa sabhalwa ngemva kokusitheka kwenyanga kokugcina okwenzeka eminyakeni engaba ngu-400 ngemva kokusitheka kwenyanga kokuqala. Njengoba umbhali engazibonanga zonke lezo zenzakalo, kungenzeka wasebenzisa izibalo ukuze athole ukuthi ukusitheka kwelanga kwangaphambili kwakwenzeke nini. Ngaphandle kokuba kuvele obunye ubufakazi obusekela iziphetho zakhe, izibalo ezinjengalezi ngeke zibe umthombo wokwaziswa esingathembela kuwo wohlelo lwezenzakalo.

[Umthombo]

© The Trustees of the British Museum

 [Ibhokisi/Izithombe emakhasini 26, 27]

SIBHALWENI NGEMPELA ISIBHEBHE I-VAT 4956?

Kungani lokho kubaluleke kangaka? Umugqa wesithathu kulesi sibhebhe uthi ‘ngobusuku bangomhla ka-9’ enyangeni yokuqala (uNisanu/uNisani), “inyanga yama yaba ingalo eyodwa phambi kwe-ß Virginis.” Nokho, ngo-1915 uNeugebauer noWeidner babhala okuthile mayelana nonyaka ka-568 B.C.E. (owawuyokhomba onyakeni ka-587 B.C.E. njengonyaka iJerusalema elabhujiswa ngawo) bathi “inyanga yama yaba ingalo eyodwa phambi kwale nkanyezi ngo-Nisan 8, hhayi ngoNisani 9.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) Nokho, inyanga yayimi ngendlela efanayo nango-588 B.C.E. ngoNisani 9, okukhomba onyakeni ka-607 B.C.E.

Ingabe kufanele kube usuku lwesi-9 noma lwesi-8?

(1) Njengoba kuboniswe esithombeni, uphawu lwase-Akkad luka-9 lubonakala ngokucacile.

(2) Lapho behumusha lo mbhalo we-cuneiform ngezwi nezwi, uNeugebauer noWaidner bashintsha u-“9” bamenza u-“8.”

(3) Umbhalo waphansi kuphela obonisa ukuthi kwakuno-“9” embhalweni wokuqala.

(4) Ngisho nasenguqulweni yabo yesiJalimane bafaka u-“8.”

(5) Ngo-1988, uSachs noHunger banyathelisa umbhalo unjengoba unjalo uno-“9.”

(6) Nokho, abazange balwenze ushintsho enguqulweni yabo yesiNgisi, bathi u-“9 uyiphutha bafaka u-8.”

[Umthombo]

bpk/Vorderasiatisches Museum, SMB/Olaf M. Teßmer

 [Ibhokisi ekhasini 28]

Amaphuzu Esihloko Esithi “Labhujiswa Nini IJerusalema Lasendulo?—Ingxenye Yesibili”

1. I-cuneiform wuhlobo oluthile lokubhala ngezimpawu ezimise okukanxantathu. Umbhali wayecindezela izimpawu ezihlukahlukene esibhebheni sobumba oluthambile esebenzisa ipeni elibukhali elinesihloko esimise okukanxantathu.

2. I-Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, ka-A. K. Grayson, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1975, yaphinde yanyatheliswa ngo-2000, ikhasi 8.

3. Inkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha yaqala phakathi nekhulu lesi-7 B.C.E., ngesikhathi uhlanga lwamakhosi amaKhaledi lubusa uMbuso waseBhabhiloni. Umbusi wokuqala kwaba uNabopolassar, uyise kaNebukhadenezari II. Le nkathi yaphela lapho umbuso wenkosi yokugcina, uNabonidasi, ugumbuqelwa iNkosi yasePheresiya uKoresi ngo-539 B.C.E.

4. I-Neo-Babylonian Business and Administrative Documents, ka-Ellen Whitley Moore, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1935, ikhasi 33.

5. I-Archimedes, uMqulu 4, New Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, “Observations and Predictions of Eclipse Times by Early Astronomers,” kaJohn M. Steele, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2000, ikhasi 36.

6. I-Amel-Marduk 562-560 B.C.—A Study Based on Cuneiform, Old Testament, Greek, Latin and Rabbinical Sources. With Plates, kaRonald H. Sack, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1972, ikhasi 3.

7. Izibhebhe i-BM 80920 ne-BM 58872 zinenyanga yesine neyesihlanu yonyaka u-Evili-merodaki ahlala ngawo esihlalweni sobukhosi. Lezi zinyanga zanyatheliswa uSack encwadini ethi Amel-Marduk 562-560 B.C.—A Study Based on Cuneiform, Old Testament, Greek, Latin and Rabbinical Sources. With Plates, amakhasi 3, 90, 106.

8. Isibhebhe esiseBritish Museum (BM 55806) esangenyanga yeshumi, okuwunyaka wama-43.

9. Izibhebhe i-BM 75106 ne-BM 61325 zabhalwa ngenyanga yesi-7 neyeshumi yonyaka obhekwa njengonyaka wokugcina (wesibili) wokubusa kwenkosi u-Evili-merodaki. Nokho, isibhebhe i-BM 75489 sabhalwa ngenyanga yesibili yonyaka wokubusa kukaNeriglissar, owangena esikhundleni emva kwakhe.—i-Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum, uMqulu VIII, (Izibhebhe ZaseSippar 3) ka-Erle Leichty, J. J. Finkelstein, noC.B.F. Walker, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1988, amakhasi 25, 35.

I-Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum, uMqulu VII, (Izibhebhe ZaseSippar 2) ka-Erle Leichty no-A. K. Grayson, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1987, ikhasi 36.

I-Neriglissar—King of Babylon, kaRonald H. Sack, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1994, ikhasi 232. Inyanga esesibhebheni u-Ajaru (inyanga yesibili).

10. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaNeriglissar. Umbhalo oqoshiwe wasebukhosini ophathelene naye uthi “wayeyindodana kaBêl-shum-ishkun, inkosi yaseBhabhiloni.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) Omunye umbhalo oqoshiwe ubiza uBêl-shum-ishkun ngokuthi “isikhulu esihlakaniphile.” Igama lokuqala elithi “isikhulu,” rubû, liyisiqu esiphinde sisho “inkosi, umbusi.” Njengoba kunokungqubuzana okusobala phakathi kokubusa kukaNeriglissar nowamandulela u-Amel-Marduk, kungenzeka yini ukuthi “le nkosi yaseBhabhiloni,” uBêl-shum-ishkun, yabusa isikhashana phakathi nesikhathi sala makhosi amabili? UProfesa R. P. Dougherty, wavuma ukuthi “ubufakazi bozalo lwasebukhosini lukaNeriglissar abunakushalazelwa.”—Nabonidus and Belshazzar—A Study of the Closing Events of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, kaRaymond P. Dougherty, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1929, ikhasi 61.

11. I-Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts From Babylonia, uMqulu V, eyahlelwa uHermann Hunger, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2001, amakhasi 2-3.

12. I-Journal of Cuneiform Studies, uMqulu 2, No. 4, 1948, “A Classification of the Babylonian Astronomical Tablets of the Seleucid Period,” ka-A. Sachs, amakhasi 282-283.

13. I-Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts From Babylonia, uMqulu V, ikhasi 391.

14. I-Mesopotamian Planetary Astronomy-Astrology, kaDavid Brown, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2000, amakhasi 164, 201-202.

15. I-Bibliotheca Orientalis, L N° 1/2, Januari-Maart, 1993, “The Astronomical Diaries as a Source for Achaemenid and Seleucid History,” kaR. J. van der Spek, amakhasi 94, 102.

16. I-Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts From Babylonia, uMqulu I, ka-Abraham J. Sachs, eyaqedwa futhi yahlelwa uHermann Hunger, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1988, ikhasi 47.

17. I-Babylonian Eclipse Observations From 750 BC to 1 BC, kaPeter J. Huber noSalvo De Meis, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2004, ikhasi 186. Ngokusho kwesibhebhe i-VAT 4956, lokhu kusitheka kwelanga kwenzeka ngomhla ka-15 wenyanga yesithathu yaseBhabhiloni, okusikisela ukuthi inyanga kaSimanu yaqala ezinsukwini ezingu-15 ngaphambili. Uma ukusitheka kwelanga kwenzeka ngo-July 15, 588 B.C.E. ngokusho kwekhalenda likaJulius, khona-ke, usuku lokuqala lukaSimanu lwaluyoba ngo-June 30/July 1, 588 B.C.E. Okusho ukuthi inyanga yokuqala yaseBhabhiloni (uNisanu) yayiyobe iqale unyaka omusha ezinyangeni ezimbili ngaphambili, ngo-May 2/3. Nakuba ngokuvamile unyaka wokusitheka kwelanga kwakumelwe uqale ngo-April 3/4, isibhebhe i-VAT 4956, emgqeni wesithupha sithi kwenezelwa enye inyanga ngemva kwenyanga ka-12 (yokugcina u-Addaru) yonyaka odlule. (Isibhebhe sifundeka kanje: “Inyanga ka-8 XII₂.”) Ngakho-ke, lokhu kwenza ukuba unyaka omusha ungaqali kwaze kwaba ngu-May 2/3. Ngaleyo ndlela, usuku lokusitheka kwelanga ngo-588 B.C.E. luvumelana ncamashí nalokho okusesibhebheni.

18. Ngokwe-Berichte über die Verhandlungen der Königl. Sächsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig (Imibiko Ephathelene Nezingxoxo Zesayensi Zomphakathi Wasebukhosini WaseSaxony eLeipzig); uMqulu 67; May 1, 1915; esihlokweni esithi “Ein astronomischer Beobachtungstext aus dem 37. Jahre Nebukadnezars II” (Imibhalo Yabahloli Bezinkanyezi Yonyaka Wama-37 KaNebukhadinezari II), kaPaul V. Neugebauer and Ernst F. Weidner, amakhasi 67-76, kunamaqoqo angu-13 okufundwa kokuma kwenyanga lapho kuchazwa ukuhlobana nezinye izinkanyezi noma imilaza. Baphinde bakhulume ngamaqoqo angu-15 okufundwa kokuma kwamaplanethi. (Amakhasi 72-76) Yize uphawu lwe-cuneiform lwenyanga lucacile futhi luqondakala, ezinye izimpawu namagama amaplanethi nokuma kwawo akucacile. (Mesopotamian Planetary Astronomy—Astrology, kaDavid Brown, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2000, amakhasi 53-57) Ngenxa yalokhu, ukufundwa kokuma kwamaplanethi kungaqagelwa futhi kuchazwe ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Njengoba kulula ukulandela inyanga, ukuma kwezinye izinto ezisemkhathini okukhulunywe ngazo esibhebheni i-VAT 4956 nokuzihlobanisa nenyanga kungenzeka, futhi ukuthola ukuthi zama nini kuleyo ndawo kungaqinisekiswa.

18a. Lezi zinkathi (“izinkathi ezintathu zenyanga”) ziyisilinganiso sesikhathi, ngokwesibonelo, kusukela ekushoneni kwelanga nenyanga ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga naphakathi kwezinkathi ezimbili ngasekupheleni kwenyanga. Izazi ziye zafaka lezi zilinganiso ezinsukwini zekhalenda. (“The Earliest Datable Observation of the Aurora Borealis,” kaF. R. Stephenson and David M. Willis, in Under One Sky—Astronomy and Mathematics in the Ancient Near East, eyahlelwa nguJohn M. Steele no-Annette Imhausen, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2002, amakhasi 420-428) Ukuze izazi zasendulo zikwazi ukulinganisa le nkathi kwadingeka zithole okuthile okusawashi. Izilinganiso ezinjalo zazingathembekile. (Archimedes, uMqulu 4, New Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, “Ukufunda Nokubikezelwa Kwezikhathi Zokusitheka Kwelanga Kwezazi Zezinkanyezi Zakudala,” kaJohn M. Steele, eyanyatheliswa ngo-2000, amakhasi 65-66) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukubala ukuma kwenyanga uma kuqhathaniswa nezinye izinto ezisemkhathini kwakuqinisekiswe kakhudlwana.

19. Lolu cwaningo lwenziwa ngohlelo lwe-computer lwezazi zezinkanyezi okuthiwa i-TheSky6™. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kulolu cwaningo kwenezelwa uhlelo olungakhokhelwa lwesimiso se-computer olunemininingwane okuthiwa i-Cartes du Ciel/Sky Charts (CDC) noluguqula izinsuku olwalethwa i-U.S. Naval Observatory. Ngenxa yezimpawu ze-cuneiform ukuma okuningi kwamaplanethi kuyaqagelwa futhi kunezincazelo eziningi, lokhu kuma akuzange kusetshenziswe kulolu cwaningo ukuze kutholakale unyaka oqondile owawuhloswe yile mibhalo egciniwe yezinto ezisemkhathini.

20. I-Berichte über die Verhandlungen der Königl. Sächsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig (Imibiko Ephathelene Nezingxoxo Zesayensi Zomphakathi Wasebukhosini WaseSaxony eLeipzig); uMqulu 67; May 1, 1915; “Ein astronomischer Beobachtungstext aus dem 37. Jahre Nebukadnezars II (-567/66)” (Umbhalo Wokufundwa Kwezinkanyezi wonyaka wama-37 wokubusa kukaNebukhadinezari II), kaPaul V. Neugebauer no-Ernst F. Weidner, ikhasi 41.

21. Isibhebhe i-VAT 4956 emgqeni wesithathu sifundeka kanje: “Inyanga yama ingalo eyodwa [noma ngama-degree angu-2] phambi kuka-ß Virginis.” Ucwaningo okukhulunywe ngalo lwaphetha ngokuthi ngoNisanu 9, inyanga yayimi ngama-degree angu-2°04ʹ phambi kuka-ß Virginis nangu-0° ngaphansi kwayo lenkanyezi. Kwabonakala kuvumelana ncamashí.

[Ishadi ekhasini 25]

 (Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

ISIBHEBHE I-VAT 4956 SITHI LABHUJISWA NINI IJERUSALEMA—NGO-587 B.C.E. NOMA NGO-607 B.C.E.?

◼ Lesi sibhebhe sichaza izenzakalo ezenzeka emkhathini ngonyaka wama-37 wokubusa kweNkosi uNebukhadinezari II.

◼ UNebukhadinezari II wabhubhisa iJerusalema ngonyaka we-18 wokubusa kwakhe.—Jeremiya 32:1.

Uma unyaka wama-37

kaNebukhadinezari II

wawungu-568 B.C.E., kusho

ukuthi iJerusalema

587 ← ← labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E.

610 B.C.E. 600 590 580 570 560

607 ← ← Uma unyaka wakhe wama-37 wawungo-588 B.C.E.

lokho kusho ukuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa

ngo-607 B.C.E., okuwusuku oluboniswa uhlelo

lwezenzakalo zeBhayibheli.

◼ Isibhebhe i-VAT 4956 sikhomba ngokuqondile ku-607 B.C.E.

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 22]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum