1, 2. (a) Yintoni engaqhelekanga eyayisenziwa nguHezekile? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.) (b) Yayithetha ntoni yonke le nto?

ONKE amaYuda awayethinjelwe eBhabhiloni, ayethetha ngezinto ezingaqhelekanga ezazisenziwa nguHezekile. Wayehleli edidekile kwaye engathethi iveki yonke, wavela waphakama waya kuzivalela endlini. Waphinda waphuma abamelwane besaxakiwe, wachola isitena waza wazoba kuso. Esathule njalo, waqalisa ukusibiyela.​—Hez. 3:10, 11, 15, 24-26; 4:1, 2.

² Ngokuqinisekileyo lalisanda inani labantu ababebukele, kwaye inoba babezibuza ukuba, ‘Wenza ntoni lo mntu?’ Ekuhambeni kwexesha, la maYuda ayeza kwazi ukuba le nto ithetha umsindo kaYehova ozayo. Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni? Yayiza kuthetha ntoni kumaYuda? Kwaye ithetha ntoni kubantu abakhonza uYehova namhlanje?

3, 4. (a) Yeyiphi imiboniso emithathu awayenzayo uHezekile eyayibonisa umgwebo kaThixo? (b) UHezekile wakubonisa njani ukurhangqwa kweYerusalem?

³ Malunga nonyaka ka-613 B.C.E., uYehova wayalela uHezekile ukuba enze imiboniso emithathu yendlela awayeza kuyigweba ngayo iYerusalem. Owokuqala wawubonisa ukurhangqwa kwayo, owesibini  ubonisa ukusokola kwabantu bayo, wona owesithathu ubonisa ukutshatyalaliswa kwayo nabantu bayo. * Makhe sithethe ngale miboniso mithathu.

⁴ Ukurhangqwa kweYerusalem. UYehova wathi kuHezekile: “Thatha isitena usibeke phambi kwakho. . . . Sirhangqe.” (Funda uHezekile 4:1-3.) Isitena sasimela iYerusalem, yena uHezekile emela umkhosi waseBhabhiloni owawusetyenziswa nguYehova. Wayalelwa ukuba asibiyele, aze asirhangqe ngethambeka lokusihlasela nezixhobo zokudiliza iindonga. Ezi zinto zazimela izixhobo zemfazwe ezaziza kusetyenziswa ziintshaba xa zihlasela iYerusalem. UHezekile waphinda wayalelwa ukuba abeke ipleyiti yentsimbi phakathi kwakhe neYerusalem, ukubonisa indlela anamandla ngayo amajoni awayeza kuyihlasela. Wayalelwa ukuba ‘ajonge’ kuyo. Yonke le nto ‘yayiluphawu kwindlu kaSirayeli’ olwalubonisa ukuba kukho intlekele ezayo. UYehova wayeza kusebenzisa iintshaba ukuba zitshabalalise iYerusalem, eyayisisixeko sabantu bakaThixo, apho kanye yayimi khona itempile yakhe.

5. Chaza indlela uHezekile awayibonisa ngayo into eyayiza kwenzeka kubantu baseYerusalem.

⁵ Ukusokola kwabantu baseYerusalem. UYehova wathi kuHezekile: ‘Thatha ingqolowa, irhasi, iimbotyi ezinkulu, iilentile, amazimba nehabile [uhlobo lwengqolowa], uze wenze isonka ngazo. Umele usilinganise uze utye iishekele eziyi-20 zaso ngemini.’ Emva koko uYehova wathi: “Ndiza kukuphelisa ukutya.” (Hez. 4:9-16) Kulo mboniso, uHezekile wayengasameli umkhosi waseBhabhiloni, kodwa wayemela abantu baseYerusalem. Wayebonisa ukuba ukurhangqwa kweso sixeko kwakuza kubenza bangabi nakutya. Babeza kuxuba izinto ezingaqhelekanga xa besenza isonka. Loo nto yayibonisa ukuba, abantu babeza kutya loo nto ikhoyo. Yayiza kuba nkulu kangakanani loo ndlala? UHezekile wathi ngabantu baseYerusalem: “Ootata baza kutya oonyana, noonyana batye ootata.” Abantu babeza kusokola ngenxa ‘yeentolo zendlala ezibulalayo,’ baze “babhitye.”​—Hez. 4:17; 5:10, 16.

6. (a) Zeziphi izinto ezimbini awazibonisayo uHezekile? (b) Wawubonisa ntoni umyalelo kaThixo owawusithi ‘makakale iinwele zakhe, azahlulahlule kathathu’?

⁶ Ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem nabantu bayo. Kulo mboniso, uHezekile wabonisa izinto ezimbini ezaziza kwenzeka. Waqala ngokubonisa into uYehova awayeza kuyenza. UYehova wathi kuye: “Thatha ikrele elibukhali ulisebenzise njengebleyidi yomchebi weenwele.” (Funda uHezekile 5:1, 2.) Ukuthatha kukaHezekile ikrele, kwakumela ukohlwaya kukaYehova iYerusalem, esebenzisa umkhosi waseBhabhiloni. Waphinda wabonisa into eyayiza kwenzeka kumaYuda.  UYehova wathi kuye: “Cheba intloko neendevu zakho.” Ukucheba kukaHezekile intloko yakhe, kwakubonisa indlela amaYuda awayeza kuhlaselwa aze atshatyalaliswe ngayo. Waphinda wathi ‘makathathe izikali aze akale iinwele zakhe, azahlulahlule kathathu.’ Loo nto yayibonisa ukuba iYerusalem yayiza kugwetywa ngokupheleleyo.

7. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova athi uHezekile makazahlulahlule kathathu iinwele zakhe, aze enze izinto ezahlukeneyo ngazo?

 ⁷ Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova athi uHezekile makazahlulahlule kathathu iinwele zakhe, aze enze izinto ezahlukeneyo ngazo? (Funda uHezekile 5:7-12.) UHezekile wayitshisela ‘esixekweni’ inxalenye yokuqala yeenwele zakhe, ukuze abonise abo babebukele ukuba abanye abantu baseYerusalem babeza kufela kweso sixeko. Enye inxalenye yeenwele zakhe wayibetha ngekrele “kuso sonke isixeko,” ukuze abonise ukuba abanye abantu babeza kubulawelwa ngaphandle kwesixeko. Eyokugqibela wayiphosa emoyeni ukuze abonise ukuba abanye abantu baseYerusalem babeza kuthi saa kwezinye iintlanga, kodwa babeza ‘kuleqwa ngekrele.’ Loo nto yayibonisa ukuba babengazukonwaba nokuba baphi.

8. (a) Into eyenziwa nguHezekile yabonisa njani ukuba lalisekho ithemba? (b) Yenzeka njani into eyayiprofetiwe ngeenwele “ezimbalwa”?

⁸ Kuyo yonke loo nto, isiprofeto sikaHezekile sabonisa ukuba lalisekho ithemba. UYehova wathi kuHezekile ngeenwele zakhe awayezichebile: “Thatha nezinye ezimbalwa . . . uzisongele emphethweni wesambatho sakho.” (Hez. 5:3) Lo myalelo wawubonisa ukuba ayekhona amaYuda ambalwa awayengazukufa. Amanye ayeza kuba phakathi kwabantu ababeza kubuyela eYerusalem emva kweminyaka eyi-70 yokuthinjwa eBhabhiloni. (Hez. 6:8, 9; 11:17) Ngaba yenzeka loo nto? Ewe. Emva kweminyaka emininzi amaYuda ebuyile eBhabhiloni, umprofeti uHagayi wachaza ukuba amanye awo ayebuyele nyhani eYerusalem. ‘Yayingamaxhego awayeyibonile indlu yokuqala,’ eyitempile kaSolomon. (Ezra 3:12; Hag. 2:1-3) Ekubeni uYehova wayethembisile, waye waqiniseka ukuba bakhona abantu abaza kuphinda bamkhonze ngendlela ayifunayo. Siza kuthetha ngakumbi ngako oku kwiSahluko 9 sale ncwadi.​—Hez. 11:17-20.

9, 10. Izinto ezenziwa nguHezekile zisikhumbuza ntoni?

⁹ Izinto ezenziwa nguHezekile zisikhumbuza ngezinto elithi iLizwi LikaThixo ziseza kwenzeka. Zeziphi ezinye zazo? UYehova uza kusebenzisa imibutho yeepolitiki ukuze atshabalalise zonke iinkonzo zobuxoki, kanye njengokuba wenzayo kwiYerusalem. (ISityhi. 17:16-18) Njengokuba ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ‘kwakuyintlekele engaqhelekanga,’ ‘nexesha lentlungu engathethekiyo’ eliza  kulandelwa yiArmagedon liza kuba yinto “engazange ibonwe” ngaphambili.​—Hez. 5:9; 7:5; Mat. 24:21.

¹⁰ ILizwi LikaThixo libonisa ukuba bakhona abantu abakhonzayo abaza kusinda xa kutshatyalaliswa iinkonzo zobuxoki. Ngenxa yokuba besoyika, baza kudibana nabanye abantu abaza kube bekhangela indawo yokuzimela. (Zek. 13:4-6; ISityhi. 6:15-17) Into yabo isicingisa ngento eyenzeka ebantwini abasinda xa kwakutshatyalaliswa iYerusalem baza basasazeka. Njengokuba sibonile  kwisiqendu 7, basinda okwexeshana kodwa uYehova ‘warhola ikrele wabaleqa.’ (Hez. 5:2) Ngokufanayo, nokuba babalekela phi abo baza kube besinde xa kutshatyalaliswa iinkonzo, ikrele likaYehova liza kubafumana. Baza kubulawa kwimfazwe yeArmagedon, kunye nabo bonke abanjengeebhokhwe.​—Hez. 7:4; Mat. 25:33, 41, 46; ISityhi. 19:15, 18.

11, 12. (a) Ukwazi kwethu isiprofeto sikaHezekile esithetha ngokurhangqwa kweYerusalem kumele kusenze sikujonge njani ukushumayela namhlanje? (b) Kuza kutshintsha njani ukushumayela kwethu?

¹¹ Ukwazi ukuba sithetha ntoni esi siprofeto, kumele kusenze sikujonge njani ukushumayela nokungxamiseka kwako? Kusenza sifune ukubanceda kangangoko abantu ukuba bakhonze uYehova. Ngoba? Kuba ixesha lokwenza “abafundi abantu beentlanga zonke” lincinci. (Mat. 28:19, 20; Hez. 33:14-16) Kaloku xa “intonga” (imibutho yeepolitiki) ihlasela iinkonzo, siza kuyeka ukushumayela umyalezo wosindiso. (Hez. 7:10) Njengokuba uHezekile wayengakwazi ukuthetha, okanye ukuxelela abantu ngemiyalezo evela kuThixo, nathi siza kuyeka “ukuthetha,” okanye ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. (Hez. 3:26, 27; 33:21, 22) Emva kokutshatyalaliswa kweenkonzo zobuxoki, abantu baza kuzama kangangoko ukufuna iindaba ezilungileyo, okanye ‘ukufuna umbono kumprofeti,’ kodwa abazukuwufumana. (Hez. 7:26) Ixesha lokufumana iindaba ezilungileyo nelokuba ngumlandeli kaKristu liza kube ligqithile.

¹² Le nto ayithethi ukuba uza kuphela umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Ngoba? Xa kufike ixesha lentlungu engathethekiyo, siza kushumayela ngemigwebo enjengesibetho sesichotho. Oko kuza kubonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba isiphelo sehlabathi sifikile.​—ISityhi. 16:21.

13. Yintoni eyayiboniswa kukungqengqa kukaHezekile ngecala lasekhohlo nangecala lasekunene?

¹³ Le nto uHezekile wayenzayo ayizange ibonise nje kuphela indlela eyayiza kutshatyalaliswa ngayo iYerusalem, kodwa yabonisa nexesha eyayiza kutshatyalaliswa ngalo. UYehova wathi kuHezekile makangqengqe ngecala lasekhohlo iintsuku eziyi-390, nangecala  lasekunene iintsuku eziyi-40. Usuku ngalunye lwalumela unyaka. (Funda uHezekile 4:4-6; Num. 14:34) UHezekile umele ukuba wayengqengqa iiyure nje ezimbalwa ngemini, ibe ezo ntsuku zazibonisa unyaka eyayiza kutshatyalaliswa ngawo iYerusalem. Kubonakala ukuba le minyaka eyi-390 yokona kukaSirayeli yaqala ngo-997 B.C.E. Ngaloo nyaka, ubukumkani bezizwe eziyi-12 bahlukana baba ziinxalenye ezimbini. (1 Kum. 12:12-20) Yona iminyaka eyi-40 yokona kukaYuda kubonakala ukuba yaqala ngo-647 B.C.E. Ngaloo nyaka, uYeremiya wayalelwa ukuba aprofete ngokutshatyalaliswa kwesizwe sakwaYuda. (Yer. 1:1, 2, 17-19; 19:3, 4) Ngoko omabini la maxesha ayeza kuphela ngo-607 B.C.E. Lowo ngunyaka eyatshatyalaliswa ngawo iYerusalem, kanye njengokuba uYehova wayetshilo. *

14. (a) UHezekile wayibonisa njani into yokuba wayeqinisekile ukuba uYehova uyalibamba ixesha? (b) Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem?

¹⁴ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba xa uHezekile wayeprofeta ngeentsuku eziyi-390 neentsuku eziyi-40, wayengawazi unyaka  eyayiza kutshatyalaliswa ngawo iYerusalem. Kodwa njengoko lalisondela ixesha lokutshatyalaliswa kwayo, waqhubeka ewalumkisa amaYuda ngomgwebo kaYehova ozayo. Wayesithi: “Sikufikele ngoku isiphelo.” (Funda uHezekile 7:3, 5-10.) UHezekile wayeqinisekile ukuba uYehova uza kulibamba ixesha. (Isa. 46:10) Wachaza nangezinto ezaziza kwenzeka ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem. Wathi: “Kuza kufika intlekele emva kwenye.” Ezi ntlekele zaziza kwenza ukuba iimeko zibe mbi kakhulu ekuhlaleni, ezinkonzweni nakurhulumente.​—Hez. 7:11-13, 25-27.

15. Zeziphi izinto ezaprofetwa nguHezekile ezaqalisa ukwenzeka ngo-609 B.C.E.?

¹⁵ Emva kweminyaka embalwa uHezekile eprofete ngokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, zaqala ukwenzeka izinto awayeprofete ngazo. Ngo-609 B.C.E. weva ukuba iYerusalem yayisele iqalile ukuhlaselwa. Ngokuqhelekileyo, xa kukhala ixilongo abantu babexhoba ukuze bakhusele isixeko sabo, kodwa njengokuba uHezekile wayetshilo, ngeli xesha ‘akukho mntu waya edabini.’ (Hez. 7:14) Abantu baseYerusalem abazange basikhusele isixeko sabo, yaye abazange balwe namajoni aseBhabhiloni. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba amanye amaYuda ayecinga ukuba uYehova wayeza kuwakhusela. Wayekhe wayenza loo nto xa ama-Asiriya ayefuna ukuhlasela iYerusalem. Wathumela ingelosi yawutshabalalisa umkhosi wawo. (2 Kum. 19:32) Kodwa ke ngoku, zange kufike ngelosi. Kungekudala, esi sixeko saba ‘njengembiza ebekwe eziko,’ kwaye abantu baso ‘benjengenyama’ ekuloo mbiza. (Hez. 24:1-10) Emva kokurhangqwa iinyanga eziyi-18, iYerusalem yatshatyalaliswa.

16. Singayibonisa njani into yokuba siqinisekile ukuba uYehova uyalibamba ixesha?

¹⁶ Yintoni esinokuyifunda kule nxalenye yesiprofeto sikaHezekile? Ngaba sithetha ngokushumayela kwethu, nendlela abantu abasamkela ngayo? UYehova uyayazi ukuba ziza kutshabalala nini iinkonzo zobuxoki, ibe nangoku uza kulibamba ixesha. (2 Pet. 3:9, 10; ISityhi. 7:1-3) Asiyazi ukuba iza kwenzeka nini loo nto. Kodwa njengoHezekile, siqhubeka silumkisa abantu, sisithi: “Sikufikele ngoku isiphelo.” Kutheni simele siqhubeke sibalumkisa? Isizathu sethu siyafana nesikaHezekile. * Abantu abaninzi abazange bamkholelwe xa waprofeta esithi iYerusalem yayiza kutshatyalaliswa. (Hez. 12:27, 28) Kodwa ekuhambeni kwexesha, amanye amaYuda awayethinjiwe eBhabhiloni athobela aza abuyela kwilizwe lawo. (Isa. 49:8) Nanamhlanje, abantu abaninzi abayikholelwa into  yokuba eli hlabathi liza kutshatyalaliswa. (2 Pet. 3:3, 4) Kodwa ke, siyaqhubeka sinceda abantu bafumane ubomi obungunaphakade, lingekapheli ixesha.​—Mat. 7:13, 14; 2 Kor. 6:2.

17. Yintoni eza kwenzeka xa kufika ixesha lentlungu engathethekiyo?

¹⁷ Enye into esiyikhunjuzwa sisiprofeto sikaHezekile kukuba, xa kuhlaselwa iinkonzo, abantu bazo ‘abazukuya edabini’ ukuze bakhusele iinkonzo zabo. Endaweni yoko, xa bebona ukuba abahoywa xa bekhwaza besithi “Nkosi, Nkosi,” ‘izandla zabo ziza kuwa, baze bangcangcazele.’ (Hez. 7:3, 14, 17, 18; Mat. 7:21-23) Yintoni enye abaza kuyenza? (Funda uHezekile 7:19-21.) UYehova uthi: “Baza kuyiphosa ezitratweni isilivere yabo.” Loo mazwi, awayethethwa kubantu baseYerusalem, ayibonisa ngokucacileyo into eza kwenzeka xa kufika ixesha lentlungu engathethekiyo. Ngelo xesha, abantu  baza kuyiqonda into yokuba imali ayinakubasindisa kwintlekele ezayo.

18. Yintoni esiyifundayo kwisiprofeto sikaHezekile ngokuqonda izinto eziza kuqala?

¹⁸ Yintoni esiyifundayo kule inxalenye yesiprofeto sikaHezekile? Sifunda ukubaluleka kokuqonda izinto eziza kuqala. Kaloku, abantu baseYerusalem bayiqonda mva into yokuba isixeko sabo kunye nobomi babo babusengozini, nokuba izinto zabo zazingenakubasindisa. Baqabuka mva, kwaba kungona beziqonda izinto eziza kuqala. Bazilahla izinto zabo baza baqalisa ‘ukufuna umbono kumprofeti,’ kodwa babesele beshiywe lixesha. (Hez. 7:26) Ngokungafaniyo nabo, thina siyayazi ukuba isiphelo seli hlabathi sisondele. Ngoko, ukukholelwa kwethu kwizithembiso zikaThixo, kusenza sizazi izinto eziza kuqala ebomini. Loo nto isenza sizixakekise ngokuziqwebela ubutyebi basezulwini obuhlala ngonaphakade, nobungasoze buphoswe “ezitratweni.”​—Funda uMateyu 6:19-21, 24.

19. Iziprofeto zikaHezekile zisinceda njani namhlanje?

¹⁹ Iziprofeto zikaHezekile ezithetha ngokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem zisinceda njani namhlanje? Zisikhumbuza ukuba liyaphela ixesha lokunceda abantu bakhonze uThixo. Ngenxa yoko, sishumayela ngokuzimisela. Sivuya kakhulu xa abantu beqalisa ukukhonza uTata wethu uYehova. Kodwa nabo bangamkhonziyo, asiyeki ukubalumkisa, njengokuba noHezekile wabalumkisayo abantu bexesha lakhe, esithi: “Sikufikele ngoku isiphelo.” (Hez. 3:19, 21; 7:3) Sikwazimisele ukuthembela ngoYehova, nokuhlala simkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo.​—INdu. 52:7, 8; IMize. 11:28; Mat. 6:33.