1. Kubayini isikhozi seKosi yakwa-Israyeli neyeSiriya, sokulwa noJuda besingekhe siphumelele?

KADE, ugubudu asadla ubulongwe, hlangana nomnyaka ka-762 B.C.E. no-759 B.C.E., ikosi yakwa-Israyeli nekosi yeSiriya zakha isikhozi, zahlela ukuyokulwa nombuso wakwaJuda. Bewuyini umnqopho? Bekukusahlela iJerusalema, bamenule iKosi u-Ahazi esihlalweni sayo, mhlamunye bebabeke nomuntu ongasisizukulwana seKosi uDavida. (Isa. 7:5, 6) Ikosi yakwa-Israyeli beyinganatlha. UJehova bekabikezele bona omunye osizukulwana sakaDavida uzakuhlala esihlalweni saKhe sobukhosi umlibe, begodu iliZwi lakaZimu alibethi phasi nalibikezelako.—Jotj. 23:14; 2 Sam. 7:16.

2-4. Khewuhlathulule bona u-Isaya 7:14, 16 uzaliseke njani (a) ngekhulu lobunane B.C.E. (b) ngekhulu lokuthoma C.E

² Ekuthomeni, umfelandawonye weSiriya no-Israyeli bewubonakala uphumelela. Epini yinye kwaphela, u-Ahazi walahlekelwa mabutho azi-120 000! UMaseya “indodana yekosi” naye wabulawa. (2 Kron. 28:6, 7) Kodwana uJehova bekasolo aqalile. Wasikhumbula isithembiso asenza kuDavida; yeke, wathumela umphorofidi u-Isaya bona ase umlayezo okhuthazako kwaJuda.

³ U-Isaya wathi: “Qala, iqhakazana lisidisi, lizakubeletha indodana, liyithiye ibizo bona ngu-Imanuweli. . . . Kodwana ngaphambi kobana indodana yazi ukuhlukanisa okuhle nokumbi, inarha yamakhosi amabili owesabako lawo [U-Israyeli ne-Siriya] izabe itjhiyiwe.” (Isa. 7: 14, 16) Ingcenye yokuthoma yesiphorofidwesi vane kuthiwe yazaliseka nekubelethwa uMesiya, kanti vele kunjalo. (Mat. 1: 23) Nanyana kunjalo, njengombana “amakhosi amabili” ikosi yakwa-Israyeli neyeSiriya, besezingaseseyingozi kuJuda ngesikhathi sokubelethwa kwakaJesu, kuyatjho-ke bona isiphorofidwesi saka-Imanuweli sazaliseka kokuthoma emihleni ka-Isaya.

⁴ Ngemva nje kokutjho kwaka-Isaya, umkakhe wazithwala, wambelethela umntwana womsana ibizo lakhe elinguMahere-shalali-hashi-bhazi [uMhlangulisimsinyana-Mphangingokurhaba]. Kungenzeka bona umntwana lo bekangu “Imanuweli” u-Isaya ebekakhuluma ngaye. * Ngeenkhathi zeBhayibheli, isana belivame ukuthiywa amabizo amabili wamabeletho, mhlamunye elinye ngelokukhumbula isehlakalo esithileko esikhethekileko, elinye ngelibizwa babelethi bakhe neenhlobo. (2 Sam. 12:24, 25) Abukho ubufakazi bokuthi uJesu khewabizwa ngo-Imanuweli.—Funda  u-Isaya 7:14; 8:3, 4.

5. Ngisiphi isiqunto esibudlhadlha esathathwa yiKosi u-Ahazi?

⁵ Ngesikhathi u-Israyeli neSiriya basaqalene noJuda, bekunesinye isitjhaba, ipi ebeyibuzwa kiso, ebesinomnqopho othileko ngendawo leyo. Leso-ke bekusitjhaba ebesisazokuphatha iphasi loke, isizwe se-Asiriya. Ngokwaka-Isaya 8:3, 4, i-Asiriya beyizokuthatha “umnotho weDamaseku nepango yeSamariya” ngaphambi kokusahlela umbuso wesewula kwaJuda. Kunokuthi athembele eliZwini lakaZimu, u-Ahazi onganakholo wakha isikhozi esiyingozi nama-Asiriya, okwabizela ekugandelelweni kwakaJuda. (2 Kho. 16:7-10) Qala bona u-Ahazi bekangumalusi kaJuda odlhadlhabele kangangani! Singazibuza naku umbuzo, ‘Nekufuze ngenze isiqunto esiqakathekileko, ngithembela kuZimu namkha ebantwini na?—IzA. 3:5, 6.

6. Khewumadanise ukubusa kwaka-Ahazi nekwakaHezekhiya.

⁶ U-Ahazi wahlongakala ngo-746 B.C.E., umntwanakhe womsana uHezekhiya waba yikosi embusweni ebewudosa emhlweni ngokomoya nakwezomnotho. Njengombana isokaneli libekwa ebukhosini nje, khuyini ebekufuze likulungise kokuthoma? Kghani bekufuze lithuthukise uJuda kwezomnotho? Awa. UHezekhiya bekamumuntu ongokomoya, umalusi ofaneleko womhlambi, ositjhaba sekhabo. Akwenza qangi bekukubuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso nokuqinisa ubuhlobo besitjhaba noJehova. Uthe nakafumana bona uZimu ufunani kuye, uHezekhiya wenza ngokuhlakanipha. Qala bona usibekela isibonelo esihle kangangani!—2 Kron. 29:1-19.

7. Kubayini bekuqakathekile kumaLevi bona ikosi iwaqinisekise ngokuwasekela?

⁷ AmaLevi bekufuze adlale indima eqakathekileko ekubuyiseleni abantu ekulotjheni uZimu ngendlela ehlanzekileko. Yeke, uHezekhiya wahlangana nabo, wabaqinisekisa bona uzabasekela. Abone ngelihlo lengqondo amaLevi athembekileko ebewakhona emhlanganweni loyo, ubone neenyembezi zethabo zehla emihlathinawo njengombana ezwa ikosi ithi: “USomnini ukhethe nina kobana nize phambi kwakhe nizomlotjha.” (2 Kron. 29:11) Liqiniso, amaLevi besekanikelwe imvumo yokuthuthukisa ukukhulekela okuhlanzekileko!

8. Ngimaphi amanye amagadango uHezekhiya awathetheko bona athuthukise ingokomoya lesitjhaba, begodu kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁸ UHezekhiya wamema woke uJuda emnyanyeni wePhasika, owalandelwa mNyanya wesiKwa esinganaNgumelo owathatha amalanga alikhomba. Ngendlela abantu ebebathabe ngayo, umnyanya lo wathatha amanye amalanga alikhomba godu. IBhayibheli lithi: “Kwaba nethabo elikhulu eJerusalema ngombana ukusukela emihleni kaSolomoni umsa kaDavida ikosi yakwa-Israyeli azange khekube nento enjengale eJerusalema.” (2 Kron. 30:26) Awazi bona umnyanya ongokomoya loyo wabakhuthaza kangangani abantu ebebalapho! Encwadini yeenKronike zesibili 31:1 siyafunda: “Kwathi bona koke kuphele, ama-Israyeli, . . . afika aphadlha amatje akhethekileko abe agawula nemifanekiso yabo-Atjhera.” Ngendlela enamandla, uJuda wathoma ukubuyela kuJehova. Ukuzihlanza okungokomoyokhu bekuyinto eqakatheke khulu njengombana kukhona ebebakulindeleko.

9. (a) Khuyini okwatjharaganisa amaqhinga ka-Israyeli? (b) USanirheribu waphumelela njani ekuhluleni uJuda?

⁹ Amezwi ka-Isaya aba liqiniso, ama-Asiriya awuhlula umbuso wakwa-Israyeli wetlhagwini, athumba abantu bawo, okwenza bona iqhinga lawo lokubeka omunye umuntu esihlalweni sakaDavida litjharagane. Kuthiwani ngeqhinga lama-Asiriya? Kwanjesi ama-Asiriya aqalisa amabombo kwaJuda. “Ngomnyaka wetjhumi nane wokubusa kwekosi uHezekhiya, uSanirheribu ikosi ye-Asiriya wasahlela amadorobho anemithangala wakwaJuda bewawathumba.” Ukulandisa kuthi uSanirheribu wathumba amadorobho ama-46 wamaJuda. Khewucabange bona bewungazizwa njani ngathana bewuhlala eJerusalema ngesikhatheso. Ngokulandelana kwawo, amadorobho lawo ahlulwa libutho lama-Asiriya ebelitjhidela eJerusalema!—2 Kho. 18:13.

10. UMikha 5:4, 5 wamkhuthaza njani uHezekhiya?

¹⁰ Kuliqiniso ukuthi uHezekhiya besekayibonile ingozi ezako, kodwana kunokuthi afune isizo eenarheni zabantu abatjhili, njengokwenza kwakayise osihlubuki u-Ahazi, uHezekhiya wathembela kuJehova. (2 Kron. 28:20, 21) Mhlamunye uwezwile amezwi omphorofidi uMikha weMoretjheti ebekaphila ngesikhatheso nakathi nge-Asiriya: “Nakuma-Asiriya wona, . . . sizawahlanganisa nabalusi abalikhomba nabarholi ababunane bezizwe ezinye. Bazakudla inarha ye-Asiriya ngesabula.” (Mik. 5:4, 5; [5:5, 6, NW]) Kungenzeka amezwi la amkhuthaza uHezekhiya, ngombana bekatjengisa ukuthi bekuzakuba nelinye ibutho elingakavami elizoyisahlela i-Asiriya nokuthi abasahleli abanganahliziywaba bebazokuhlulwa ekugcineni.

11. Isiphorofido esimalungana nabelusi abalikhomba nabarholi ababunane besizokuzaliseka nini?

¹¹ Isiphorofido esikhuluma ngabelusi abalikhomba nabarholi ababunane (“iinkhulu,” ngokwe-The New English Bible) besizokuzaliseka ngokuyihloko ngemva kokubelethwa kwakaJesu, ‘umbusi wakwa-Israyeli, ondabuko yakhe yavela ngaphambilini ekadeni.’(Funda uMikha 5:2, 3, [5:1, 2 NW].) Lesi bekuzokuba sikhathi lapho iinceku zakaJehova zizokuthuswa khona ‘yi-Asiriya’ yanamhlanjesi. UJehova, uzakusebenzisa maphi amabutho—umrhugi wawo oyindodanakhe ebusako—bona asahlele inaba elithusakweli? Sizakhe sibone. Kodwana ngaphambi kokunaba ngendaba le, akhe sithole isifundo ezenzweni zakaHezekhiya kuma-Asiriya, othi newucabanga ngawo usikinyelwe ziinhluthu.

12. Ngimaphi amagadango athathwa nguHezekhiya nalabo ebebanaye bona bavikele abantu bakaZimu?

¹² UJehova uyakuthanda ukusenzela izinto esibhalelwa kuzenzela zona, kodwana usalindele bona nathi senze esingakghona ukukwenza. UHezekhiya wahlanganisa umkhulumo “neenkhulu zakhe kanye nabarholi bamabutho,” babona kungcono “bavale amanzi avela emithonjeni evela ngaphandle kweJerusalema . . . [UHezekhiya] Wavuselela umthangala ogirikileko bewakha neenthala zabalindi phezu kwawo . . . Wenza nequbi leenkhali kanye neenhlangu.” (2 Kron. 32:3-5) Ukwenzela bona aluse abantu baKhe, uJehova wasebenzisa idlazana lamadoda anesibindi—uHezekhiya, iinkhulu zakhe, nabaphorofidi abaqinileko ngokomoya.

13. Ngiliphi igadango eliqakatheke ukuwadlula woke elathathwa nguHezekhiya bona aqinise abantu ngokusahlela ebekutjhidele? Hlathulula.

¹³ Igadango elilandelako elathathwa nguHezekhiya beliqakatheke ukudlula ukuvala amanzi namkha ukuqinisa amaboda wedorobho. Njengomalusi okhathalelako, uHezekhiya wabutha woke umuntu wamkhuthaza ngokomoya ngamezwi naka: “Ningesabi namkha niphele amandla ngebanga lekosi ye-Asiriya kanye nesinyokotho samabuthwayo . . , ngombana thina sinamandla amakhulu kunayo. Yena uhlome ngeenkhwepha zenyama kodwana thina siqine ngoSomnini uZimethu ozosisiza abe alwe izipi zethu.” Qala bona isikhumbuzwesi siqinisa ikholo kangangani—ukuthi uJehova uzobalwela abantu bakhe! Bathe nabezwa lokho “abantu baqina isibindi ngamezwi kaHezekhiya ikosi yakwaJuda.” Tjheja bona ‘amezwi kaHezekhiya’ aqinisa abantu isibindi. Yena neenkhulu zakhe namadoda anamandla baba belusi abalisizo—nasekubalwa hlangana uMikha no-Isaya, njengombana uJehova atjhwile ngomphorofidakhe.—2 Kron. 32:7, 8; funda uMikha 5:4, 5, [5:5, 6 NW].

14. Ngiyiphi indima eyadlalwa nguRabitjhake, begodu abantu basabela njani?

¹⁴ Ikosi ye-Asiriya yahloma ikampa yayo eLakitjhi esesewulatjhingalanga neJerusalema. Kusukela lapho-ke wathumela abazenda abathathu, bona batjele iJerusalema lilahle itewu, lizinikele. Umkhulumeli wekosi leyo, obekanesiqu esithi Rabitjhake, wasebenzisa amano ahlukahlukeneko. Akhuluma ngesiHebheru, wakhuthaza abantu bona bahlubuke ekosinabo bazinikele kuma-Asiriya, abaninda ngedaka emehlweni ngelokuthi uzabanikela inarha lapho bazokuphila kamnandi khona. (Funda 2 AmaKhosi 18:31, 32.) Ngemva kwalokho, uRabitjhake wagandelela lokuthi abosingazimu bezinye izizwe babhalelwa kuvikela labo ababalotjhako, yeke, noJehova bekangekhe akghone ukuwavikela amaJuda esandleni sama-Asiriya. Ngokuhlakanipha abantu khenge bawaphendule amezwi wobunyoka akhohlakeleko layo, okuyikambiso elandelwa ziinceku zakaJehova nanamhlanjesi.—Funda 2 AmaKhosi 18:35, 36.

15. Khuyini abahlali beJerusalema ebekufuze bakwenze, begodu uJehova wabasindisa njani?

¹⁵ Ungalitjho lizale umlomo lokuthi uHezekhiya bekakwate afile, kodwana kunokuthi ayokubawa isizo kwezinye iinarha, walayela bona kubizwe umphorofidi u-Isaya. U-Isaya wathi kuHezekhiya: “[Ikosi uSanirheribu] Angekhe yangena edorobheneli namkha idumuze umsubela la.” (2 Kho. 19:32) Ebekutlhogwa bahlali beJerusalema bekukujama la bajame khona. UJehova bekazowalwela amaJuda. Begodu wakwenza lokho! “Ngobusukobo ingilozi kaSomnini yasahlela ekampeni yama-Asiriya yabulala abantu abalikhulu namatjhumi abunane nahlanu weenkulungwana.” (2 Kho. 19:35) UJuda wasindiswa, ingasi ngokukhandelwa kwemithombo yamanzi namkha ukwakha amaboda, kodwana wasindiswa kungenela kwakaZimu.

16. Bobani namhlanje abaqalisela (a)ezakhamuzini zeJerusalema (b) kuma-Asiriya (c) kubelusi abalikhomba nabarholi ababunane?

¹⁶ Isiphorofido esimalungana nabelusi abalikhomba nabarholi ababunane sizokuzaliseka ngokuyihloko esikhathini sethu. Izakhamuzi zeJerusalema zasahlelwa ma-Asiriya. Esikhathini esizako esingaphelisi ihliziyo, abantu bakaJehova ababonakala bangakavikeleki bazokusahlelwa ‘yi-Asiriya’ yanamhlanjesi, umnqopho wayo okukubarhayila. ImiTlolo iqalisela ekusahlelenokho ‘njengekwakaGogi wakwaMagogi,’ ukusahlela ‘kwekosi yangetlhagwini,’ nokusahlela ‘kwamakhosi wephasi.’ (Hez. 38:2, 10-13; Dan. 11:40, 44, 45; IsAm. 17:14; 19:19) Kghani ukusahlelokhu, kukusahlela okuhlukahlukeneko? Asicabangi bona kungaba njalo. Kungenzeka iBhayibheli liqalisele ekusahleleni kunye ngamabizo amanengi. UJehova uzokurhwatjhula siphi isikhali esifihlakeleko bona alwe nenaba elinganahliziyo—“Ama-Asiriya”? Sikhali ongekhe usicabangele—“abelusi abalikhomba nabarholi ababunane”! (Mik. 5:5, [5:4, NW]) Abelusi nabarholi (namkha “iinkhulu,” NEB) ebuthweni elirarakweli badala bebandla. (1 Pit. 5:2) Namhlanjesi, uJehova wenza bona kube namadoda amanengi angokomoya bona aluse izimvu zakhe eziligugu, aqinise abantu bakhe bakghone ukujamelana nokusahlela okuzako ‘kwe-Asiriya’ yangesikhathi sethu. * UMikha watjho bona “bazakudla inarha ye-Asiriya ngesabula.” (Mik. 5:4, [5:6, NW]) Phakathi kweenkhali zabo zepi uzokuthola “isabula kamoya” eliliZwi lakaZimu.—2 Kor. 10:4; Efe. 6:17.

17. Ngiziphi iimphetho ezine abadala abangafinyelela kizo ezimalungana nokulandisa esifunde ngakho?

¹⁷ Abadala abafunda isihlokwesi ngesikhathesi bangafinyelela kinanzi iimphetho ekulandisenokhu: (1) Igadango elisebenzako esingalithatha bona sizilungiselele ukuhlasela kwama-Asiriya kukuthi siqinise ikholo lethu kuZimu begodu sisize nabanye benze njalo. (2) Nekusahlela ama-Asiriya, abadala kufuze bakholiseke bona uJehova uzasisindisa. (3) Ngesikhatheso, isinqophiso esisithola ehlanganweni kaJehova singabonakala singanangqondo ngokombono womuntu. Woke umuntu kufuze akulungele ukulalela nokwenza ngokuvumelana nananyana ngisiphi isinqophiso asifumanako, kungakhathaliseki bona siyezwakala namkha sibethe eqadi ngokombono womuntu. (4) Kwanje sikhathi sokobana woke umuntu okungenzeka uthembele efundweni ephakemeko, ezintweni eziphathekako, neenhlanganweni zabantu, atjhugulule umkhumbulwakhe. Abadala kufuze bakulungele ukusiza nanyana ngubani obonakala anekholo elibogabogako.

18. Esikufunda ekulandisenokhu, kungasizuzisa njani ngumuso?

¹⁸ Siyeza isikhathi lapho zoke iinceku zakaZimu zanamhlanjesi zizakubonakala kwanga azikavikeleki njengamaJuda ebekangaphakathi eJerusalema ngeenkhathi zakaHezekhiya. Nekufika isikhatheso kwanga soke singathola amandla emezwini kaHezekhiya. Akuhlale kuseengqondweni zethu-ke ukuthi amanabethu ahlome “ngeenkhwepha zenyama kodwana thina siqine ngoSomnini uZimethu ozosisiza abe alwe izipi zethu”!—2 Kron. 32:8.