1, 2. (a) Ngutiphi tintfo letingakavami Hezekeli latenta? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesehluko.) (b) Letento takhe betisiphrofetho sani?

LETINDZABA temphrofethi Hezekeli kanye netintfo bekatenta letingacondzakali tasakateka ngekushesha kumaJuda lebekatfunjelwe eBhabhulona. Sekuphele liviki solo ahleti phansi adidekile futsi angakhulumi, kodvwa ngekushesha uyasukuma, ungena endlini yakhe futsi uvala umnyango. Nyalo uphindze uyavela, bomakhelwane bakhe bayambuka futsi bamangele, utsatsa sitini usibeka embikwakhe futsi udvweba lokutsite kuso. Ngemuva kwaloko, ucala kwakha lubondza loluncane kodvwa solo uthulile.—Hez. 3:10, 11, 15, 24-26; 4:1, 2.

² Kungenteka kutsi letibukeli lebetikhula ngelinani betitibuta: ‘Kusho kutsini konkhe loku?’ Betitokwati ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi kutsi letento temphrofethi Hezekeli letididako betisho kuta kwesentakalo lesitoveta intfukutselo lesondzelako yaJehova Nkulunkulu. Besiyini lesentakalo? Sive saka-Israyeli satsintseka njani kulesentakalo? Lesentakalo sititsintsa njani tikhonti taJehova lamuhla?

3, 4. (a) Hezekeli wakhombisa tiphi tincenye letintsatfu tesehlulelo saNkulunkulu? (b) Hezekeli wawenta njani umfanekiso wekuvinjetelwa kweJerusalema?

³ Ngabo 613 B.C.E., Jehova wayala Hezekeli kutsi akhombise ngemifanekiso tindlela letintsatfu tekuta kwesehlulelo saNkulunkulu  lesimelene neJerusalema. Letehlulelo betifaka ekhatsi: kuvinjetelwa kwalelidolobha, kuhlupheka kwetakhamuti takhona kanye nekubhujiswa kwalelidolobha nebantfu balo. * Ase sicoce kabanti ngaletindlela letintsatfu.

⁴ Kuvinjetelwa kweJerusalema. Jehova watjela Hezekeli watsi: “Tsatsa sitini usibeke embikwakho. . . . Yenta shengatsi wakha tintfo tekulivimbetela.” (Fundza Hezekeli 4:1-3.) Lesitini besimelela lidolobha iJerusalema, kantsi Hezekeli bekamelela libutfo laseBhabhulona njengobe belitosetjentiswa nguJehova. Hezekeli waphindze wayalwa kutsi akhe lubondza loluncane, indvundvuma yekuvimbetela kanye netingodvo letinkhulu tekubhidlita. Letintfo bekufanele atibeke titungelete lesitini. Betimelela tikhali temphi lebetitosetjentiswa titsa teJerusalema natitungeleta lelidolobha futsi tilihlasela. Kuze akhombise emandla lanjengensimbi alamasotja latitsa, Hezekeli wabeka “likesi lensimbi” nobe ngcwengcwe emkhatsini wakhe nalelidolobha. ‘Wabese ubuka’ lelidolobha. Letintfo Hezekeli latenta taba “luphawu kubantfu baka-Israyeli” lwekutsi kunalokutsite lobekuseta labangakakulindzeli. Jehova bekatawusebentisa libutfo lesitsa kuze avimbetele iJerusalema, lokulidolobha lelibaluleke kakhulu kubantfu baNkulunkulu futsi leliyindzawo yelithempeli laNkulunkulu!

5. Chaza kutsi Hezekeli wakuveta njani loko bekutawehlela bantfu baseJerusalema.

⁵ Kuhlupheka kwebantfu baseJerusalema. Jehova watjela Hezekeli watsi: ‘Ubotsatsa kolo, ibhali, emabhontjisi, emalentili, emabele kanye nesipileti [lolu luhlobo lolutsite lwakolo] . . . wente ngako sinkhwa’ futsi “kufanele ukale futsi udle lokungemagremu langaba ngu-230 ngelilanga.” Jehova wabese uyachaza utsi: “Sengiyakucedza kudla.” (Hez. 4:9-16) Kulomfanekiso lawentako, Hezekeli akasameleli libutfo laseBhabhulona, kodvwa sewudlala indzima yebantfu baseJerusalema. Loko lomphrofethi lakwenta bekusiphrofetho sekutsi lokuvinjetelwa lokutako kutawenta kutsi kudla kube kuncane kulelidolobha. Ngaleso sikhatsi, sinkhwa besitawubhakwa ngetintfo letingakavami kuhlanganiswa nakubhakwa sinkhwa, futsi loko bekukhombisa kutsi bantfu bebatawudla nobe yini labayitfolako. Lendlala beyitawuba matima kanganani? Kwaba shengatsi ukhuluma nalabantfu ngalokucondzile nakatsi: “Bobabe labakhona emkhatsini wenu bayawudla emadvodzana abo, nemadvodzana adle bobabe bawo.” Ekugcineni, labanyenti bebatawufa ngenca ‘yemicibisholo lebulalako yendlala’ futsi bantfu labanyenti ‘bebatawondza.’—Hez. 4:17; 5:10, 16.

6. (a) Ngutiphi tincenye letadlalwa nguHezekeli ngasikhatsi sinye? (b) Uvetani umyalo lowashiwo nguNkulunkulu lotsi ‘kala uphindze wehlukanise letinwele’?

⁶ Kubhujiswa kweJerusalema nebantfu bayo. Kulencenye yemfanekiso losiphrofetho, Hezekeli wadlala tindzima letimbili ngesikhatsi sinye. Kwekucala, Hezekeli wadlala indzima yaloko Jehova bekatakwenta. Jehova watsi kuye: “Titsatsele inkemba lekhaliphako  kuze uyisebentise ibe yilezana yekuhhula” (Fundza Hezekeli 5:1, 2.) Sandla saHezekeli lebesiphetse inkemba besimelele sandla saJehova, lokusehlulelo sakhe lasikhipha asebentisa libutfo laseBhabhulona. Kwesibili, wenta umfanekiso waloko emaJuda bekatawuhlangabetana nako. Jehova watsi kuye: “Hhula inhloko yakho nesilevu sakho.” Kuhhula enhloko kwaHezekeli bekumelela indlela emaJuda bekatawuhlaselwa futsi abulawe ngayo. Ngetulu kwaloko, umyalo wekutsi ‘atsatse tikali kuze akale aphindze ehlukanise letinwele tibe tincenye letintsatfu letilinganako’ bewukhombisa kutsi sehlulelo saJehova lesimelene neJerusalema besengeke nje sitentakalele, kodvwa besitokhishwa ngenhloso futsi sentisiswe.

7. Kungani Jehova atjela Hezekeli kutsi ehlukanise tinwele tibe tincenye letintsatfu futsi ente intfo leyehlukile encenyeni ngayinye yato?

 ⁷ Kungani Jehova atjela Hezekeli kutsi atsatse tinwele takhe latihhulile atehlukanise tibe tincenye letintsatfu letilinganako futsi ente sento lesehlukile encenyeni ngayinye? (Fundza Hezekeli 5:7-12.) Hezekeli washisa incenye yinye yaletinwele takhe “ekhatsi kulelidolobha” kuze akhombise kutsi labanye bantfu bakulelidolobha bebatawufela kulo. Hezekeli watsatsa lenye incenye yaletinwele wayihlaba ngenkemba “kulo lonkhe lelidolobha” kuze akhombise kutsi labanye bantfu bakhona bebatawubulawelwa ngephandle kwalelidolobha. Ngemuva kwaloko watsatsa incenye yekugcina kuze akhombise kutsi labanye bantfu bakulelidolobha bebatawusakatekela etiveni, kodvwa “inkemba” ‘beyitawubacosha.’ Ngako, nobe ngukuphi lapho bantfu labasindzile bebatawubalekela khona, bebangeke bakutfole kuthula.

8. (a) Lomfanekiso waHezekeli unaliphi litsemba? (b) Sagcwaliseka njani lesiphrofetho lesimayelana ‘neticucu letimbalwa’?

⁸ Nobe kunjalo, umfanekiso waHezekeli losiphrofetho bewuphindze unikete litsemba. Naku Jehova lakusho kulomphrofethi mayelana naletinwele bekatihhulile: ‘Ubotsatsa ticucu letimbalwa . . . utibophele emphetfweni wengubo yakho.’ (Hez. 5:3) Lomyalo bewukhombisa kutsi emaJuda lambalwa lebekasakatekele etiveni bekatawusindza. Letinye ‘taleticucu letimbalwa’ bekutawuba ngulamanye emaJuda latfunjiwe lebekatawubuyela eJerusalema ngemuva kweminyaka lengu-70 aseBhabhulona. (Hez. 6:8, 9; 11:17) Sagcwaliseka yini lesiphrofetho? Yebo. Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite emaJuda abuyile eBhabhulona, umphrofethi Hagayi waveta kutsi lamaJuda lebekasakatekile sekabuyele eJerusalema. Bekungemadvodza “lasakhulile labeyibonile lendlu yaNkulunkulu leyayikhona kucala,” lokulithempeli laSolomoni. (Ezra 3:12; Hag. 2:1-3) Jehova wacinisekisa kutsi kukhonta lokuhlantekile kuyavikeleka njengobe etsembisa. Imininingwane leminyenti ngalokubuyiselwa kutococwa ngayo kuSehluko 9 salencwadzi.—Hez. 11:17-20.

9, 10. Imifanekiso lesiphrofetho leyentiwa nguHezekeli isikhumbuta ngatiphi tintfo lokwaphrofethwa ngato letitawenteka esikhatsini lesitako?

⁹ Letintfo Hezekeli latenta tisikhumbuta ngetintfo letibalulekile letimayelana nelikusasa letfu, lokukhulunywa ngato eVini  laNkulunkulu. Ngutiphi letinye tato? Njengobe kwenteka eJerusalema, Jehova utawusebentisa libutfo letive kuze lente intfo lengakalindzeleki—litawuhlasela tonkhe tinhlangano tenkholo yemanga emhlabeni. (Semb. 17:16-18) Njengobe nje nekubhujiswa kweJerusalema kwaba ‘yinhlekelele lengazange seyibonwe,’ ngako “nekuhlupheka lokukhulu” lokuta nemphi ye-Amagedoni kuyawuba yintfo ‘lengazange seyibe khona.’—Hez. 5:9; 7:5; Mat. 24:21.

¹⁰ LiVi laNkulunkulu likhombisa kutsi bantfu labasekela inkholo yemanga batawusindza nakubhujiswa tinhlangano tenkholo yemanga. Ngenca yekwesaba, labantfu batawuhlangana nalabanye betinhlangano taSathane futsi bafune indzawo yekubhaca. (Zak. 13:4-6; Semb. 6:15-17) Simo sabo sisikhumbuta ngaloko lokwenteka ngesikhatsi bantfu baseJerusalema basindza nayibhujiswa futsi basakatekela “emoyeni.” Njengobe sibonile  esigabeni 7, kutsi nanobe basindza ngaleso sikhatsi kodvwa Jehova wakhipha ‘inkemba kuze abacoshe.’ (Hez. 5:2) Ngendlela lefanako, tonkhe tindzawo tekubhaca letitawusetjentiswa ngulabatawube basindzile nakuhlaselwa inkholo yemanga, angeke tibavikele enkembeni yaJehova. Nge-Amagedoni, batawubulawa kanye nabo bonkhe labafana netimbuti.—Hez. 7:4; Mat. 25:33, 41, 46; Semb. 19:15, 18.

11, 12. (a) Indlela lesisicondza ngayo siphrofetho saHezekeli lesimayelana nekuvinjetelwa kweJerusalema, iwutsintsa njani umbono lesinawo ngemsebenti wekushumayela? (b) Umsebenti wetfu wekushumayela kanye nemlayeto lesiwumemetelako kungase kushintje ngayiphi indlela?

¹¹ Indlela lesisicondza ngayo lesiphrofetho siwutsintsa njani umsebenti wetfu wekushumayela kanye nekuphutfuma kwawo? Igcizelela kubaluleka kwekutsi sente konkhe lokusemandleni etfu kuze sisite bantfu babe tikhonti taJehova. Kungani? Kungobe sikhatsi sekwenta “bantfu bato tonkhe tive babe bafundzi” sesinciphile. (Mat. 28:19, 20; Hez. 33:14-16) Kutawutsi lapho “indvuku” (lokulibutfo letive) nayicala kuhlasela inkholo yemanga, angeke sisashumayela umlayeto wensindziso. (Hez. 7:10) Nakutiwa etindzabeni letimnandzi ‘angeke sikhone kukhuluma,’ njengobe naHezekeli angazange akhone kukhuluma futsi angazange achubeke amemetela imilayeto yakhe. (Hez. 3:26, 27; 33:21, 22) Kuliciniso kutsi ngemuva kwekubhujiswa kwenkholo yemanga, ngemcondvo lotsite, bantfu “batawufuna umbono kumphrofethi,” kodvwa kute ticondziso letisindzisa kuphila labayonikwa tona. (Hez. 7:26) Sikhatsi sekutfola ticondziso nesekuba ngumfundzi waKhristu sitawube sesendlulile.

¹² Nobe kunjalo, umsebenti wetfu wekushumayela utawuchubeka. Kanjani? Ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka lokukhulu, kungenteka sitawucala kumemetela umlayeto wesehlulelo lotawube ufana nesishayo sesangcotfo. Lomlayeto utawuveta ngalokucacile kutsi kuphela kwalelive lelibi sekufikele bonkhe bantfu.—Semb. 16:21.

13. Kungani Jehova atjela Hezekeli kutsi alale ngemhlubulo wangesencele newangesekudla?

¹³ Ngetulu nje kwekuphrofetha ngekutsi iJerusalema beyitawubhujiswa njani, Hezekeli waphindze wakhombisa kutsi bekutawenteka  nini loko. Jehova watjela Hezekeli kutsi alale ngemhlubulo wangesencele emalanga langu-390, bese ulala ngemhlubulo wangesekudla emalanga langu-40. Lilanga ngalinye belimelela umnyaka. (Fundza Hezekeli 4:4-6; Num. 14:34) Loku Hezekeli bekakwenta encenyeni ngayinye yelilanga, bekukhombisa umnyaka iJeruselama beyitawubhujiswa ngawo. Iminyaka lengu-390 yekona kwema-Israyeli yacala nga-997 B.C.E., lokungumnyaka lowehlukana ngawo ekhatsi umbuso wetive letingu-12 waba yimibuso lemibili. (1 Khos. 12:12-20) Kungenteka kutsi iminyaka lengu-40 yekona kwemaJuda yacala nga-647 B.C.E., lokungumnyaka umphrofethi Jeremiya latfunywa ngawo kutsi ayowecwayisa sive sakaJuda ngendlela lecacile, mayelana nekubhujiswa kwaso lokutako. (Jer. 1:1, 2, 17-19; 19:3, 4) Ngako totimbili letikhatsi taphela nga-607 B.C.E., lokungumnyaka iJerusalema leyabhujiswa ngawo njengobe nje Jehova bekashito. *

14. (a) Hezekeli wakhombisa njani kutsi uyametsemba Jehova nakutiwa endzabeni yekugcina sikhatsi? (b) Yini lebeyitawuholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema?

 ¹⁴ Ngesikhatsi Hezekeli atfola lesiphrofetho semalanga langu-390 nalangu-40, kungenteka bekangawati umnyaka lebeyitawubhujiswa ngayo iJerusalema. Nobe kunjalo, nasekusondzele umnyaka wekubhujiswa kwayo, wecwayisa emaJuda ngalokuphindzaphindziwe kutsi sehlulelo saJehova siyeta. Wamemetela watsi: “Kuphela sekunifikele.” (Fundza Hezekeli 7:3, 5-10.) Hezekeli bekangangabati kutsi Jehova utasigcina sikhatsi. (Isa. 46:10) Lomphrofethi waphindze waphrofetha ngetintfo lebetitawuholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema, watsi: “Kutawufika inhlekelele ngemuva kwalenye.” Letintfo betitawenta kutsi tinhlangano lokufaka ekhatsi tenkholo netahulumende tiphelelwe ngemandla tingasasebenti.—Hez. 7:11-13, 25-27.

15. Ngutiphi tincenye tesiphrofetho saHezekeli lebetitawugcwaliseka kusukela nga-609 B.C.E. kuchubeke?

¹⁵ Ngemuva kweminyaka lembalwa umphrofethi Hezekeli amemetele ngekubhujiswa kweJerusalema, lesiphrofetho sacala kugcwaliseka. Nga-609 B.C.E., Hezekeli weva kutsi sekucalile kuhlaselwa kweJerusalema. Ngaleso sikhatsi, kwashaywa licilongo kuze bantfu bakulelidolobha bete batolivikela, kodvwa njengobe Hezekeli bekaphrofethile, kute lowaya emphini. (Hez. 7:14) Bantfu baseJerusalema abazange babutsane ndzawonye kuze batovikela lelidolobha ngekutsi balwe nelibutfo laseBhabhulona. Kungenteka lamanye emaJuda bekacabanga kutsi Jehova utawasita. Bekake wawasita ngesikhatsi ema-Asiriya asongela iJerusalema, futsi ingilosi yaJehova yabulala libutfo lawo. (2 Khos. 19:32) Kodvwa ngaleso sikhatsi kute ingilosi leyefika yatobasita. Kungakapheli sikhatsi lesinganani, lelidolobha lebelivinjetelwe beselifana ‘nelibhodo lekupheka’ lelibekwe “emlilweni” futsi bantfu bakhona besebafana ‘nemacatsa enyama’ lakulelibhodo. (Hez. 24:1-10) Ngemuva kwetinyanga letingu-18 lebetimatima tekuvinjetelwa, iJerusalema yabhujiswa.

16. Lamuhla singakhombisa njani kutsi siyametsemba Jehova nakutiwa endzabeni yekugcina sikhatsi?

¹⁶ Yini lesingayifundza kulencenye yesiphrofetho saHezekeli? Siyahlangana yini nemsebenti wetfu wekushumayela kanye nendlela labawutsatsa ngayo labo lesibashumayelako? Jehova sewuncumile kutsi lokubhujiswa lokusondzelako kwenkholo yemanga kutawufika nini futsi utawuphindze asigcine sikhatsi. (2 Phet. 3:9, 10; Semb. 7:1-3) Asati kutsi loku kutawufika ngaliphi lilanga. Nanobe kunjalo, njengaHezekeli, siyachubeka silandzela umyalo wekucwayisa bantfu ngalokuphindzaphindziwe sitsi: “Kuphela sekunifikele.” Kungani kudzingeka siwuphindzaphindze lomlayeto? Sizatfu siyafana naleso Hezekeli bekanaso sekuwuphindzaphindza. * Abazange bamkholwe bantfu labanyenti lebekamemetela kubo lesiphrofetho saJehova sekubhujiswa kweJerusalema. (Hez. 12:27, 28) Kodvwa ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, lamanye emaJuda lebekatfunjwe eBhabhulona, akhombisa kutsi sihle simo senhlitiyo yawo futsi abuyela  eveni lawo. (Isa. 49:8) Ngendlela lefanako, bantfu labanyenti lamuhla abetsembi kutsi lelive litawubhujiswa. (2 Phet. 3:3, 4) Nobe kunjalo, sifuna kuchubeka sisita bantfu labanenhlitiyo lenhle kutsi batfole indlela leya ekuphileni, kuze kube ngulapho siphela sikhatsi sekutsi bantfu bemukele umlayeto waNkulunkulu.—Mat. 7:13, 14; 2 Khor. 6:2.

17. Ngutiphi timo kanye netintfo lesitatibona tenteka ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka lokukhulu lokutako?

¹⁷ Siphrofetho saHezekeli siphindze sisikhumbute kutsi nakufika sikhatsi sekuhlaselwa kwetinhlangano tenkholo yemanga, bantfu labangemalunga emasontfo angeke baye emphini kuze bavikele inkholo. Esikhundleni saloko, batawubona kutsi kukhalela kwabo lusito batsi “Nkhosi, Nkhosi” akuphendvulwa, futsi “tandla tabo titawucega” tichachatele. (Hez. 7:3, 14, 17, 18; Mat. 7:21-23) Yini lenye labatawuyenta? (Fundza Hezekeli 7:19-21.) Jehova utsi: “Bayawulahla lisiliva labo etitaladini.” Lamavi lamayelana nebantfu baseJerusalema akuveta ngalokucacile loko lokutawenteka  ngekuhlupheka lokukhulu. Ngaleso sikhatsi, bantfu batawubona kutsi imali ngeke ikhone kubasindzisa kulenhlekelele letako.

18. Ngutiphi tifundvo lesititfolile esiphrofethweni saHezekeli letimayelana nekwenta tintfo letibalulekile tite kucala ekuphileni kwetfu?

¹⁸ Sikhona yini sifundvo lesisitfolako lesimayelana natsi kulesiphrofetho saHezekeli? Sikhona, futsi simayelana nekwati kutsi yini leta kucala ekuphileni kwetfu. Cabanga nganaku: Bantfu baseJerusalema bacondza ngemuva kwekubhujiswa kwayo kutsi umcebo angeke ubasindzise, futsi ngemuva kwaloko bacala kushintja umbono wabo mayelana nekutsi yini lebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwabo. Balahla umcebo wabo futsi bacala kufuna “umbono kumphrofethi,” kodvwa besekwephute kakhulu. (Hez. 7:26) Ngalokwehlukile, tsine sesivele siyati kutsi kuphela kwalelive lelibi sekusifikele. Kuba nekukholwa etetsembisweni taNkulunkulu kusisite sahlela kahle tintfo letita kucala ekuphileni kwetfu. Kungako simatasatasa ngetintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu, lokutintfo letinelinani lelihlala njalo futsi letingeke tilahlwe “etitaladini.”—Fundza Matewu 6:19-21, 24.

19. Timemetelo taHezekeli letisiphrofetho tisitsintsa njani lamuhla?

¹⁹ Sesephetsa, letinye tetiphrofetho taHezekeli letimayelana nekubhujiswa kweJerusalema tisitsintsa njani lamuhla? Tisikhumbuta kutsi sesinciphile sikhatsi sekusita labanye kutsi babe tinceku taNkulunkulu. Ngako siwenta ngekuphutfuma umsebenti wekwenta bafundzi. Sijabula kakhulu nasibona labo labanetinhlitiyo leticotfo bacala kukhonta Babe wetfu, lokunguJehova. Kodvwa nalabo labangasitsatsi sinyatselo sekukhonta Nkulunkulu, siyachubeka sibecwayisa njengobe naHezekeli bekenta ngesikhatsi sakhe nakatsi: “Kuphela sekunifikele.” (Hez. 3:19, 21; 7:3) Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, sitimisele kuchubeka setsembele kuJehova futsi sente kukhonta lokuhlantekile kute kucala etimphilweni tetfu.—Hla. 52:7, 8; Taga 11:28; Mat. 6:33.