1, 2. (a) Nguwuphi umbono owafunyanwa nguYeremiya nowamnceda wasazi esona sigidimi amele asivakalise? (b) Kutheni simele sibe nomdla nje kwisigidimi sikaYeremiya?

 “YINTONI na oyibonayo?” UThixo wambuza oko umprofeti wakhe omtsha. UYeremiya oselula waphendula wathi: “Ndibona imbiza yokupheka ebaselweyo emlomo ubanzi, kwaye umlomo wayo ulifulathele elasemntla.” Loo mbono wanceda uYeremiya wabona uhlobo lwesigidimi awayeza kusivakalisa. (Funda uYeremiya 1:13-16.) Le mbiza yokupheka yokomfuziselo yayibaselwa ukuze umlilo uvuthe ngamandla.  UYehova wayechaza kusengaphambili ngentlekele efana nomphunga owawuza kuphuma kule mbiza utshise ilizwe lakwaYuda ngenxa yokungathembeki kwalo. Ucinga ukuba siyintoni isizathu sokuba umlomo wale mbiza uthambekiselwe ngezantsi? Oku kwakubonisa ukuba inkathazo yayiza kuvela emantla—iBhabhiloni yayiza kuhlasela apho. Yaye kwenzeka kanye oko. Ngexesha lokuba ngumprofeti kwakhe, uYeremiya wazibonela ngawakhe ukulephuza komphunga kuloo mbiza ibilayo, yaye oko kwaphumela ekutshatyalalisweni kweYerusalem.

² Ngoku iBhabhiloni ayisekho, kodwa sinezizathu zokunikela ingqalelo kwisiprofeto sikaYeremiya. Ngoba? Kaloku siphila “ekupheleni kwemihla,” apho abantu abaninzi besithi bangamaKristu; ukanti bona neecawa zabo abamkholisi uThixo. (Yer. 23:20) Ngokwahlukileyo koko, sixelisa uYeremiya, thina nabanye abazalwana bethu abangamaNgqina asishumayeli nje isigidimi somgwebo kodwa nesethemba.

 3. (a) Yiyiphi indlela ebhalwe ngayo incwadi yeBhayibhile kaYeremiya? (b) Yintoni injongo yeSahluko 2 sale ncwadi?

³ Kuyabonakala ukuba uYeremiya akazange azibhale ngexesha ezazisenzeka ngalo ezi ziganeko, kunoko wazichazela unobhala wakhe ngasekupheleni komsebenzi wakhe wokuprofeta. (Yer. 25:1-3; 36:1, 4, 32) Iziganeko ezikule ncwadi yakhe azibhalwanga ngokulandelelana kodwa zibhalwe ngokwemibandela. Ngoko ke, uya kukufumanisa kuluncedo ukufunda ngeziganeko ezikwincwadi kaYeremiya neyeZililo nokulandelelana kwazo. Oku unokukubona kwisicangca esikwiphepha 19. Xa usazi ukuba nguwuphi ukumkani owayelawula kwaYuda ngexesha elithile, usazi noko kwakusenzeka kwaYuda ngeso sihlandlo, uya kuziqonda ngakumbi izinto ezazithethwa nezazisenziwa nguYeremiya. Uya kuzuza gqitha kwizigidimi zikaThixo awazidlulisela kubantu Bakhe ngoYeremiya.

4-6. Yayinjani imeko yabantu bakaThixo mandulo ngaphambi kokuba uYeremiya abe ngumprofeti?

⁴ UYeremiya waprofeta ngexesha ekwakusenzeka ngalo iinguqu ezininzi. Kwakukho ungquzulwano phakathi kweAsiriya, iBhabhiloni neYiputa. Malunga neminyaka engama-93 ngaphambi kokuba uYeremiya aqalise ukuprofeta, iAsiriya yoyisa ubukhosi bezizwe ezilishumi basemantla kwaSirayeli yaza yathimba abemi abaninzi balapho. Ngelo xesha, uYehova wayikhusela iYerusalem nokumkani wayo othembekileyo uHezekiya, ekubeni ihlaselwe yiAsiriya. Umele ukuba uyayikhumbula indlela engummangaliso uThixo awawabulala ngayo amajoni ali-185 000 aseAsiriya. (2 Kum. 19:32-36) Omnye woonyana bakaHezekiya yayinguManase. Kuyabonakala ukuba uYeremiya wazalwa ebudeni beminyaka engama-55 yolawulo lukaManase, ixesha apho uYuda wayecinezelwe yiAsiriya.—2 Kron. 33:10, 11.

⁵ UYeremiya wabhala incwadi yoku-1 neye-2 yooKumkani, apho sifunda ukuba uManase wabuya wazakha iindawo eziphakamileyo ezazitshatyalaliswe nguyise. UManase wakhela uBhahali nomkhosi wamazulu izibingelelo, ezinye wazibeka nakwitempile kaYehova. UManase wachitha igazi elininzi elimsulwa, wada wabingelela nangonyana wakhe kuthixo wobuxoki. Ukushwankathela, “wenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova ngomlinganiselo omkhulu.” Ngenxa yabo bonke obo bungendawo, uThixo wachaza ukuba iYerusalem noYuda yayiza kufikelwa yintlekele, kanye njengeSamariya noSirayeli. (2 Kum. 21:1-6, 12-16) Emva kokufa kukaManase, unyana wakhe uAmon waqhubeka enqula izithixo njengoyise, kodwa izinto zaziza kutshintsha kungekudala. Emva kweminyaka emibini, uAmon wabulawa, kwaza kwalawula unyana wakhe uYosiya owayeneminyaka esibhozo ubudala ngowama-659 B.C.E.

⁶ Ebudeni bolawulo lukaYosiya lweminyaka engama-31, iBhabhiloni yaba namandla ngakumbi kuneAsiriya. UYosiya  wasebenzisa eli thuba ukukhulula uYuda kwingcinezelo yeAsiriya. Ngokwahlukileyo kuyise noyisemkhulu, uYosiya wamkhonza ngokuthembeka uYehova waza wenza iinguqu eziphawulekayo kunqulo. (2 Kum. 21:19–22:2) Kunyaka we-12 engukumkani, uYosiya wazitshabalalisa iindawo eziphakamileyo, iintsika ezingcwele, nemifanekiso yonqulo lobuxoki kubukumkani bakhe waza emva koko walungisa itempile kaYehova. (Funda eyesi-2 yeziKronike 34:1-8.) Okubangel’ umdla kukuba uYeremiya waqalisa ukuba ngumprofeti ngonyaka we-13 wolawulo lukaYosiya (647 B.C.E.).

7, 8. (a) Ulawulo lukaKumkani uYosiya lwalwahluke njani kolukaManase noAmon? (b) UYosiya wayengumntu onjani? (Funda ibhokisi  ekwiphepha 20.)

⁷ Ngoxa kwakuhlaziywa itempile, kunyaka we-18 wolawulo lukaKumkani uYosiya olungileyo, umbingeleli omkhulu wafumana “incwadi yomthetho.” Ukumkani wacela unobhala ukuba amfundele. UYosiya waziqonda iimpazamo zabantu bakhe, wafuna ulwalathiso lukaYehova kumprofetikazi uHulida, waza wabongoza ukuba bagcine imithetho kaThixo. UHulida waxelela uYosiya ukuba uYehova wayeza kubazisela “intlekele” abemi belakwaYuda ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo. Noko ke, ngenxa yesimo sengqondo esihle sikaYosiya ngonqulo lokwenyaniso, loo ntlekele yayingayi kufika kwixesha lakhe.—2 Kum. 22:8, 14-20.

⁸ UKumkani uYosiya wenza konke okusemandleni ukuze alusiphule neengcambu unqulo-zithixo. Waqhubeka esenjenjalo de waya kufikelela nakummandla wobukumkani basemantla bakwaSirayeli, wadiliza indawo ephakamileyo nesibingelelo esasiseBheteli. Wenza namalungiselelo okubhiyozela iPasika enkulu. (2 Kum. 23:4-25) Khawucinge nje indlela ekumele ukuba kwamvuyisa ngayo uYeremiya oku!  Kodwa ke, kwaba nzima ukutshintsha abantu kwiindlela zabo. UManase noAmon babefake abantu zwabha kunqulo lwezithixo olwenyanyekayo, ngoko babefile ngokomoya. Phezu kwayo nje loo migudu kaYosiya, uThixo wabonisa uYeremiya ukuba izithixo ezikwaYuda zazisezininzi njengezixeko zelo. Abantu balapho babefana nomfazi ongathembekanga—babemshiyile uYehova baza bahenyuza noothixo basemzini. UYeremiya wathi: “Into eziintloni niyibekele izibingelelo ezininzi njengezitrato zaseYerusalem, izibingelelo zokuqhumisela imibingelelo kaBhahali.”—Funda uYeremiya 11:1-3, 13.

 9. Ziziphi iziganeko ezazisenzeka kwiminyaka yokugqibela yolawulo lukaYosiya?

⁹ Kanye njengokuba ezo zigidimi zikaYeremiya zingazange ziwancede amaYuda atshintshe, kwaba njalo ke nangeentlanga eziwangqongileyo ezazifuna ukulawula loo mmandla. Ngowama-632 B.C.E., imikhosi yaseBhabhiloni yamanyana neyamaMedi yaza yabhukuqa iNineve, ikomkhulu laseAsiriya. Kwiminyaka emithathu kamva, uFaro Neko waseYiputa wakhokela imikhosi yakhe wasinga emantla esiya kuncedisa iAsiriya eyayisengxakini. Ngezizathu ezingachazwanga yiBhayibhile, uYosiya wazama ukuyibuyisela emva imikhosi yaseYiputa ngokuqubisana nayo eMegido, kodwa wangxwelerheka kakhulu. (2 Kron. 35:20-24) Esi siganeko sibuhlungu sasiza kuzisa ziphi iinguqu kwezopolitiko nakunqulo kwaYuda? Yaye ziziphi iingxaki ezingaqhelekanga awayeza kujamelana nazo uYeremiya?

10. (a) Ixesha lethu lifana njani nelo lasemva kokufa kukaYosiya? (b) Sinokuzuza njani ngokuhlolisisa ihambo kaYeremiya?

¹⁰ Cinga ngendlela amele ukuba wavakalelwa ngayo uYeremiya akuva ngokufa kukaYosiya. Ngenxa yentlungu, wamenzela isimbonono loo kumkani. (2 Kron. 35:25) Eli yayisele ilixesha lokukhathazeka, yaye ukungazinzi kwelizwe kwabangela ingcinezelo kuYuda. La magunya ehlabathi —iYiputa, iAsiriya neBhabhiloni—ayesilwa, ngalinye lifuna ukulawula loo mmandla. Imeko yezonqulo kwaYuda yatshintsha emva kokufa kukaYosiya. Oko kwaba kukuphela kolawulo olwaluvumela uYeremiya ukuba aprofete ngokukhululekileyo nokuqalisa kolawulo olukhohlakeleyo. Nanamhlanje abazalwana bethu abaninzi baye bajamelana nemeko efanayo, baqale ngokushumayela ngokukhululekileyo baza kamva batshutshiswa nomsebenzi wabo wavalwa. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abaninzi bethu bajamelene neemeko ezifanayo. Oku kunokusichaphazela njani? Kusenokufuneka senze ntoni ukuze sigcine ingqibelelo? Sinaloo mibuzo ezingqondweni, kunokusikhuthaza ngokwenene ukucinga ngeengxaki uYeremiya awaziphumelelayo.

11. Kwenzeka ntoni kwaYuda emva kokufa kukaYosiya?

¹¹ Abemi bakwaYuda babeka unyana kaYosiya uYehowahazi kwitrone yaseYerusalem. UYehowahazi, nowayesaziwa ngokuba nguShalum, walawula iinyanga ezintathu kuphela. Xa uFaro Neko wabuyela emazantsi emva kokulwa nabantu baseBhabhiloni, wamsusa esihlalweni lo  kumkani mtsha waza waya naye eYiputa, yaye uYeremiya waprofeta esithi uYehowahazi “akasayi kubuyela apho.” (Yer. 22:10-12; 2 Kron. 36:1-4) UNeko wamisela uYehoyakim, omnye woonyana bakaYosiya, ezihlangwini zakhe. UYehoyakim akazange anyathele emanyathelweni kayise. Endaweni yokuba aphelise unqulo-zithixo njengoyise, waqhubeka nalo.—Funda eyesi-2 yooKumkani 23:36, 37.

12, 13. (a) Yayinjani imeko yezonqulo ukuqalisa kolawulo lukaYehoyakim? (b) Iinkokeli zonqulo ezingamaYuda zamphatha njani uYeremiya?

¹² Ekuqaleni kokulawula kukaYehoyakim, uYehova waxelela uYeremiya ukuba aye etempileni aze awakhalimele ngokuphandle amaYuda ngenxa yobungendawo bawo. AmaYuda ayecinga ukuba ekubeni kukho itempile kaYehova, ayekhuselekile. Sekunjalo, ukuba ayengayeki “ukuba, ukubulala nokukrexeza nokufunga ngobuxoki nokuqhumisa umbingelelo kuBhahali nokulandela abanye oothixo,” uYehova wayeza kuyishiya loo tempile yakhe. Wayeza kwenza okufanayo nakubahanahanisi ababenqula kuyo, kanye njengokuba washiya umnquba owawuseShilo ngemihla yoMbingeleli Omkhulu uEli. Ilizwe lakwaYuda laliza “kuba yindawo ephanzileyo.” (Yer. 7:1-15, 34; 26:1-6) a Cinga ngesibindi ekwakufuneka uYeremiya abe naso ukuze akwazi ukuvakalisa eso sigidimi! Umele ukuba wasivakalisa esidlangalaleni phambi kwabantu abakwizikhundla eziphezulu nabahlonelwayo. Namhlanje, kukho abazalwana noodade abavakalelwa kukuba nabo bamele babe nesibindi ukuze bashumayele esitratweni okanye kubantu abazizityebi nababalulekileyo. Kuyo yonke loo nto, sinokuqiniseka ngoku: UThixo uyasixhasa, kanye njengokuba wenzayo kuYeremiya.—Heb. 10:39; 13:6.

¹³ Xa sicinga ngemeko yezonqulo neyezopolitiko kwaYuda ngelo xesha, iinkokeli zonqulo zaziza kusabela njani koko  kwakuthethwa nguYeremiya? Lo mprofeti usichazela ukuba “ababingeleli nabaprofeti nabo bonke abantu bambamba, besithi: ‘Ngokuqinisekileyo uya kufa.’” Bevutha ngumsindo bathi: “Le ndoda ifanelwe sisigwebo sokufa.” (Funda uYeremiya 26:8-11.) Kodwa ke iintshaba zikaYeremiya azizange zikwazi ukumbulala. UYehova wamkhusela umprofeti wakhe. UYeremiya akazange oyikiswe yinkangeleko yeentshaba zakhe okanye ubuninzi bazo. Nathi simele sibe njalo.

14, 15. (a) Nguwuphi umsebenzi owaqaliswa nguYeremiya nonobhala wakhe uBharuki kunyaka wesine wolawulo lukaYehoyakim? (b) Wayengumntu onjani uYehoyakim? (Funda ibhokisi  ekwiphepha 25.)

¹⁴ Kunyaka wesine wolawulo lukaYehoyakim, uYehova waxelela uYeremiya ukuba awabhale phantsi onke amazwi uYehova awathethileyo kuye ukususela kwimihla kaYosiya. Ngoko ke uYeremiya wachazela unobhala wakhe uBharuki konke uThixo awayekuthethile kwiminyaka engama-23 ngaphambili. Wamxelela ngezigwebo ezaziphathelele izikumkani kunye nookumkani abamalunga nama-20. UYeremiya wayalela uBharuki ukuba awufunde ngokuvakalayo loo msongo endlwini kaYehova. Yayiyintoni injongo yoku? UYehova wathi: “Mhlawumbi abo bendlu kaYuda baya kuyiphulaphula yonke intlekele endicinga ukuyenza kubo, ukuze babuye, ngamnye endleleni yakhe embi, nokuze okunene ndisixolele isiphoso sabo nesono sabo.”—Yer. 25:1-3; 36:1-3.

¹⁵ Xa igosa lenkundla lafundela uYehoyakim umsongo, lo kumkani wawukrazula waza wawutshisa. Emva koko wayalela ukuba uYeremiya noBharuki baziswe phambi kwakhe. “Kodwa uYehova wabagcina befihlakele.” (Funda uYeremiya 36:21-26.) Ngenxa yesimo sengqondo esibi sikaYehoyakim, uYehova wathumela umprofeti wakhe ukuze axelele ukumkani ukuba ‘wayeza kungcwatywa njengenkunzi ye-esile. Wayeza kurhuqwa aze alahlwe ngaphandle kwamasango eYerusalem.’ (Yer. 22:13-19) Ngaba ucinga ukuba uYeremiya wayezibaxa izinto?

16. Sisiphi isigidimi sethemba esavakaliswa nguYeremiya?

¹⁶ Nakuba kwakufuneka avakalise izigidimi zomgwebo, uYeremiya wayengengomprofeti wentshabalalo. Wayevakalisa nesigidimi sethemba. UYehova wayeza kuhlangula intsalela kaSirayeli kwiintshaba zayo aze ayibuyisele kwilizwe layo apho yayiza kuhlala ngokunqabiseka. UThixo wayeza kwenza ‘umnqophiso omtsha ohlala ngokungenammiselo’ nabantu bakhe aze awubhale ezintliziyweni zabo  umthetho wakhe. Wayeza kubaxolela iziphoso zabo aze angabi sazikhumbula izono zabo. Ngaphezu koko, inzala kaDavide yayiza “kuphumeza okusesikweni nobulungisa elizweni.” (Yer. 31:7-9; 32:37-41; 33:15) Ezi ziprofeto zaziza kuzaliseka kwiminyaka engamashumi nengamakhulu kamva, yaye ezinye zaziza kuzaliseka ngexesha lethu zize zisinike ithemba ngekamva eliqaqambileyo elingunaphakade. Kodwa ngemihla kaYeremiya, iintshaba zamaYuda zaqhubeka zizama iindlela zokulawula ilizwe lawo.—Funda uYeremiya 31:31, 33, 34; amaHebhere 8:7-9; 10:14-18.

17, 18. Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzekayo kwiminyaka yokugqibela yolawulo lukaYehoyakim nolukaZedekiya?

¹⁷ Ngowama-625 B.C.E., iBhabhiloni yaqubisana neYiputa kwidabi elinzima elaliseKarkemishe, kufuphi noMlambo umEfrate malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-600 kumantla eYerusalem. UKumkani uNebhukadenetsare wayinxaphisa yathi saa imikhosi kaFaro Neko, kwaza oko kwaba sisiphelo segunya leYiputa kuloo ngingqi. (Yer. 46:2) Ngoku yaba nguNebhukadenetsare olawula uYuda, waza ke uYehoyakim waba phantsi kwakhe. Noko ke, emva kweminyaka emithathu ephantsi koNebhukadenetsare, uYehoyakim wavukela. (2 Kum. 24:1, 2) Wathi akwenjenjalo, ngowama-618 B.C.E., uNebhukadenetsare wakhokela umkhosi wakhe wasinga kwaYuda waza wayingqinga iYerusalem. Unokuyicingela nawe indlela ekwakunzima ngayo ngelo xesha, nkqu nakumprofeti kaThixo uYeremiya. Kuyabonakala ukuba uYehoyakim wafa ngelo xesha. b Unyana wakhe uYehoyakin wanikezela  kwiBhabhiloni emva kokuba engene ezintanjeni zolawulo iinyanga nje ezintathu. UNebhukadenetsare wabuphanga ubuncwane baseYerusalem waza wathimba ukumkani uYehoyakin, intsapho yakhe kunye nezidwangube zakwaYuda, amadoda anamandla eso sizwe kuquka iingcibi. Phakathi kwabo bathinjwayo kwakukho uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya.—2 Kum. 24:10-16; Dan. 1:1-7.

¹⁸ UNebhukadenetsare wabeka uZedekiya, omnye woonyana bakaYosiya waba ngukumkani wakwaYuda. Waba  ngukumkani wokugqibela emhlabeni kwabo bomnombo kaDavide. Ulawulo lwakhe lwaphela xa kwatshatyalaliswa iYerusalem netempile yayo ngowama-607 B.C.E. (2 Kum. 24:17) Iminyaka eli-11 yolawulo lukaZedekiya yayizaliswe zizidubedube nokungazinzi kwezopolitiko kwaYuda. Kuyacaca ukuba uYeremiya kwakufuneka athembele ngokupheleleyo kuLowo wayemthume ukuba abe ngumprofeti.

19. Abantu bomhla kaYeremiya basabela njani kwisigidimi sakhe, yaye kutheni umele ube nomdla koku?

¹⁹ Khawukhe uzibeke kwimeko kaYeremiya. Ukususela kwixesha lolawulo lukaYosiya, uYeremiya wabona ukungazinzi kwezopolitiko nokudodobala kwabantu bakaThixo ngokomoya. Kodwa ke wayesazi ukuba izinto zaziseza kuba mandundu. Abantu bedolophu yakowabo bathi kuye: “Umele ungaprofeti egameni likaYehova, ukuze ungafi ngesandla sethu.” (Yer. 11:21) Naxa sele zizaliseka iziprofeto zikaYeremiya, amaYuda athi: “Ngokubhekisele kwilizwi eli ulithethileyo kuthi egameni likaYehova, asikuphulaphuli.” (Yer. 44:16) Sekunjalo ubomi babantu babusemngciphekweni kanye njengokuba kunjalo namhlanje. Isigidimi osishumayelayo sivela kuYehova njengeso sikaYeremiya. Ekubeni kunjalo, into eya kukunceda ube nenzondelelo kubulungiseleli kukuhlolisisa indlela uYehova awamkhusela ngayo umprofeti wakhe ngelo xesha lokuwa kweYerusalem.

20. Yintoni eyayibangela ukuba kube nzima ngakumbi kuYeremiya ukuprofeta ngexesha lolawulo lukaZedekiya? (Funda ibhokisi  ekwiphepha 29.)

²⁰ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba eyona minyaka yayinzima kakhulu kuYeremiya kuxa kwakulawula uZedekiya. Njengookumkani  abaninzi ababelawula ngaphambi kwakhe, uZedekiya “waqhubeka esenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova.” (Yer. 52:1, 2) Wayelawulwa yiBhabhiloni, yaye uNebhukadenetsare wamfungisa ngoYehova emnyanzela ukuba azithobe kukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Phezu kwako konke oko, uZedekiya wagqibela ngokuvukela. Ngelo xesha, iintshaba zikaYeremiya zazifuna ukuba naye avukele.—2 Kron. 36:13; Hez. 17:12, 13.

21-23. (a) Ngawaphi amaqela awayengquzulana kwaYuda ngexesha lokulawula kukaZedekiya? (b) Yiyiphi indlela awaphathwa ngayo uYeremiya ngenxa yesigidimi sakhe, ibe kutheni kumele kubangele umdla nje oko kuwe?

²¹ Kuyabonakala ukuba ekuqaleni kolawulo lukaZedekiya, eYerusalem kwafika abathunywa ababevela kukumkani wamaEdom, wamaMowabhi, wama-Amon, owaseTire nowaseSidon. Mhlawumbi babefuna uZedekiya abathelele ekulweni nxamnye noNebhukadenetsare. Kodwa uYeremiya wabongoza uZedekiya ukuba azithobe kwiBhabhiloni. Ngokuvisisana noko, uYeremiya wanika abo bathunywa iidyokhwe ebonisa ukuba nawabo amazwe ayemele abe phantsi kweBhabhiloni. (Yer. 27:1-3, 14) c Oko akuzange kuhle kamnandi ebantwini ekubeni babengasithandi isigidimi sikaYeremiya, ibe uHananiya wayenza mandundu ngakumbi loo meko. Wayengumprofeti wobuxoki owayehamba esithi uthunywe nguThixo ukuze achaze ukuba idyokhwe yaseBhabhiloni yayiza kwaphulwa. Noko ke, esebenzisa uYeremiya, uYehova wachaza ukuba kwakuloo nyaka elo bhedengu uHananiya laliza kufa, ibe kwenzeka kanye oko.—Yer. 28:1-3, 16, 17.

²² Ngoku uYuda wohlukana kubini—kukho abo babefuna ukuba phantsi kweBhabhiloni nabo babeyivukela. Ngowama-609 B.C.E., uZedekiya wavukela ngokucela uncedo  kumkhosi waseYiputa. Ngoko kwanyanzeleka ukuba uYeremiya abe phakathi kwabantu ababevukela iBhabhiloni. (Yer. 52:3; Hez. 17:15) UNebhukadenetsare nemikhosi yakhe yabuyela kwaYuda ukuze iphelise loo mvukelo, yaza yazoyisa zonke izixeko zelo, nto leyo eyathetha ukungqingwa kwakhona kweYerusalem. Ngeli xesha lobunzima isigidimi sikaYeremiya kuZedekiya nakubalawulwa bakhe yayikukuba iYerusalem yayiza kuwela ezandleni zeBhabhiloni. Abangaphakathi esixekweni babelindelwe kukufa. Kwakuza kusinda kuphela abo baphume baya kumaKhaledi.—Funda uYeremiya 21:8-10; 52:4.

²³ Iinkosana zakwaYuda zazityhola uYeremiya ngokuba ngungcothoza waseBhabhiloni. Wathi akuthetha inyaniso, ezi nkosana zambetha zaza zamfaka kwindlu yamabanjwa. (Yer. 37:13-15) Sekunjalo uYeremiya akazange asingxenge isigidimi sikaYehova. Ngoko ke, zabongoza uZedekiya ukuba abulale uYeremiya. Zamphosa kwiqula elingenamanzi apho wayeza kufela khona eludakeni. Kodwa uEbhedi-meleki, umTiyopiya owayesebenza endlwini kakumkani wamhlangula. (Yer. 38:4-13) Namhlanje abakhonzi bakaYehova baye bajamelana ngokufuthi nale meko ngenxa yokwala kwabo ukubandakanyeka kwimicimbi yezopolitiko. Kuyacaca ukuba, oko kwenzeka kuYeremiya kunokukomeleza xa ujamelene nezilingo uze ukwazi ukuzeyisa.

24. Chaza iziganeko ezenzeka ngowama-607 B.C.E.

²⁴ Ngowama-607 B.C.E., iBhabhiloni yada yatyhoboza kwiindonga zeYerusalem, yaza yasiwisa eso sixeko. Imikhosi kaNebhukadenetsare yayitshisa itempile kaYehova, yadiliza iindonga zeso sixeko yaza yazibulala izidwangube zalapho. UZedekiya wazama ukubaleka kodwa wabanjwa waza wasiwa phambi kukaNebhukadenetsare owamoyisayo. Oonyana bakhe babulawa ebajongile waza emva koko uNebhukadenetsare wamtyhaphaza amehlo, wambopha waza waya naye eBhabhiloni. (Yer. 39:1-7) Amazwi kaYeremiya  ngokuphathelele uYuda neYerusalem azaliseka. Kunokuba avuyiswe koko, lo mprofeti kaThixo wenza isijwili ngenxa yentlekele yabantu bakowabo. Oku sinokufunda ngako kwincwadi yeBhayibhile yeZililo. Siya kuchukumiseka gqitha xa sifunda loo ncwadi.

25, 26. (a) Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzekayo emva kokuwa kweYerusalem? (b) Abantu bomhla kaYeremiya basabela njani kwisigidimi sakhe emva kokuwa kweYerusalem?

²⁵ Yintoni eyayisenzeka kuYeremiya njengoko kwakusenzeka zonke ezi ziganeko? Iinkosana zaseYerusalem zamphosa eluvalelweni, kodwa iBhabhiloni eyoyisileyo yamphatha ngobubele, yaza yamkhulula. Kamva, uYeremiya waya kwamanye amaYuda awayesekuthinjweni, kodwa wakhululwa. Umsebenzi wakhe wawungekapheli apho; kwakusafuneka ancede abantu bakaThixo abasindileyo. UNebhukadenetsare wamisela uGedaliya waba yirhuluneli apho kwaYuda, ethembisa loo maYuda aseleyo ukuba ayeza kuba seluxolweni logama nje ayemthobela ukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Kodwa ke, amanye amaYuda awayengakuthandi oku ambulala uGedaliya. (Yer. 39:13, 14; 40:1-7; 41:2) UYeremiya wabongoza loo ntsalela ukuba iqhubeke ihlala kwelo lizwe yaye ingankwantyiswa ngukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Kodwa iinkokeli zawo zathi ulixoki zaza zasabela eYiputa, zirhuqa uYeremiya noBharuki. Nalapho uYeremiya waprofeta esithi uNebhukadenetsare wayeza kulihlasela aze aloyise elo lizwe aze ke awazisele intlekele amaYuda abalekele kwelo.—Yer. 42:9-11; 43:1-11; 44:11-13.

²⁶ Loo maYuda aphinda akamphulaphula umprofeti kaThixo oyinyaniso. Ngoba? Aqiqa ngelithi: “Ukususela kwixesha esayeka ngalo ukuqhumisela ‘kukumkanikazi wamazulu’ umbingelelo nokumthululela iminikelo ethululwayo siswele yonk’ into, saphela likrele nayindlala.” (Yer. 44:16, 18) Oku kuyibonisa kakuhle indlela eyayimbi ngayo  imeko yokomoya yabantu bexesha likaYeremiya. Kwelinye icala, kumele kusomeleze ngokwenene ukwazi ukuba umntu ongafezekanga angakwazi ukuhlala ethembekile kuYehova nangona engqongwe ngabantu abangenalukholo.

27. Yintoni esiyaziyo ngeminyaka yokugqibela yokuprofeta kukaYeremiya?

²⁷ Isiganeko sokugqibela abhale ngaso uYeremiya seso sabhalwa ngowama-580 B.C.E.—ukukhululwa kwebanjwa elinguYehoyakin entolongweni ngexesha ekwakulawula owangena ezihlangwini zikaNebhukadenetsare, uEveli-merodaki. (Yer. 52:31-34) UYeremiya umele ukuba wayeneminyaka emalunga nama-90 ubudala ngelo xesha. Asinayo ingxelo eqinisekileyo ngokuphathelele ukufa kwakhe. Kubonakala ukuba waphila imihla yokugqibela yobomi bakhe eYiputa waza wafa ethembekile emva kweminyaka emalunga nama-67 ekwinkonzo ekhethekileyo kaYehova. Waba ngumprofeti ngexesha ekwakukhuthazwa ngalo unqulo lokwenyaniso nangexesha leminyaka emininzi awayengqongwe lunqulo lwabawexuki. Bakho abantu ababesoyika uThixo abamphulaphulayo. Kodwa ke, inkoliso yabo yazigatya izigidimi zakhe, kangangokuba kwakukho nabamthiyileyo. Ngaba oku kwakuthetha ukuba usilele? Nakanye. Kaloku kwasekuqaleni uYehova wathi kuye: “Ngokuqinisekileyo baya kulwa nawe, kodwa abayi kukoyisa, kuba ‘ndinawe, ukuba ndikuhlangule.’” (Yer. 1:19) NjengamaNgqina kaYehova, nathi namhlanje sithunywe isigidimi esifanayo neso sikaYeremiya. Ngoko simele silindele ukuphathwa ngendlela efanayo neyakhe. (Funda uMateyu 10:16-22.) Ziziphi ke izifundo esinokuzifunda kuYeremiya yaye simele sibujonge njani ubulungiseleli bethu? Makhe siqwalasele le mibuzo.