1-3. (a) Kutheni umbono wetempile umele ukuba wamkhuthaza uHezekile? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.) (b) Siza kuthetha ngantoni kwesi sahluko?

KHAWUBE ngathi uyambona uHezekile, eneminyaka eyi-50. Uphile iminyaka eyi-25 yokugqibela yobomi bakhe ethinjiwe. Oko itempile yaseYerusalem yayitshatyalalisiwe. Ukuba uHezekile wayekhe wacinga ukuba angangumbingeleli eYerusalem, ngeli xesha wayesele eqonda ukuba ayizukwenzeka loo nto. Kwakuza kuqala kudlule iminyaka emalunga neyi-56 ngaphambi kokuba bakhululwe abantu ekuthinjweni. Ngoko uHezekile uyaqonda ukuba usenokusweleka bengekabuyeli kwilizwe labo abantu bakaYehova, singasathethi ke ngokuyibona xa isakhiwa kwakhona itempile. (Yer. 25:11) Ngaba ukucinga ngezo zinto kumenza akhathazeke?

² UYehova ube nenceba, kuba ukhethe kanye eli xesha ukuze abonise uHezekile umbono oza kumenza akhuthazeke aze abe nethemba. Kulo mbono, uThixo umbuyisela kwilizwe lakowabo aze amhlalise kwintaba ephakame kakhulu. Apho udibana ‘nendoda ebonakala ngathi yikopolo.’ Le ndoda, eyingelosi, imbonisa yonke itempile. (Funda uHezekile 40:1-4.) Yonke  le nto ibonakala ngathi yenzeka nyhani. Lo mbono umele ukuba uyaluqinisa ukholo lukaHezekile, kodwa kusenokwenzeka ukuba umenza abhideke kancinci. Nangona le tempile inezinto ezibufana neyaseYerusalem, yahluke kakhulu.

³ Izahluko ezilithoba zokugqibela zencwadi kaHezekile zithetha ngalo mbono umangalisayo. Kodwa ngoku makhe sithethe ngento esimele siyenze njengoko sihlola lo mbono sizama nokuwuqonda. Siza kujonga nokuba le tempile yayibonwe nguHezekile ikwayiyo na leya umpostile uPawulos awathetha ngayo emva kwamakhulu eminyaka. Emva koko, siza kuthetha ngokuba lo mbono wawuza kumnceda njani uHezekile nabanye ababethinjiwe.

4. Iincwadi zethu bezikade zisithini ngombono kaHezekile, kodwa kuye kwabonakala ntoni?

⁴ Iincwadi zethu bezikade zisithi uHezekile wabona itempile enkulu kaYehova, le umpostile uPawulos wabhala ngayo kwileta yakhe eya kumaHebhere. * Ngenxa yaloo nto, bekubonakala kusengqiqweni ukuthi izinto ezininzi ezazikulo mbono zazimela izinto ezazikwitempile awathetha ngayo uPawulos. Kodwa emva kokufundisisa, ukucingisisa nokuthandaza, kuye kwabonakala ukuba lo mbono kaHezekile wetempile usadinga ukucaciswa ngendlela elula.

5, 6. (a) Umpostile uPawulos wabonisa njani ukuba uthobekile? (b) Indlela awenza ngayo uPawulos sinokuyisebenzisa njani thina xa sicinga ngombono kaHezekile?

⁵ Kubonakala kububulumko ukuba singahlali sikhangela ukuba into ethile iprofeta okanye imela ntoni kulo mbono kaHezekile. Ngoba? Masijonge kulo mzekelo. Xa uPawulos wayethetha ngentente engcwele nangetempile yasezulwini, wachaza izinto ezikule ntente, njengesitya segolide sokutshisa isiqhumiso, into eyayigquma ityeya, nengqayi yegolide eyayinemana. Ngaba watsho ukuba ezi zinto zaziprofeta ntoni? Umoya oyingcwele zange uthi makayenze loo nto. Endaweni yoko, uPawulos wathi: “Kodwa ngoku asiloxesha lokuthetha ngokweenkcukacha ngezi zinto.” (Heb. 9:4, 5) Wathobeka, kuba wayekulungele ukulinda de uYehova amchazele esebenzisa umoya oyingcwele.​—Heb. 9:8.

⁶ Nombono kaHezekile singawujonga ngendlela efanayo. Nawo uneenkcukacha ezininzi, ibe kubonakala kububulumko ukuba silinde de uYehova azicacise ukuba kuyimfuneko. (Funda uMika 7:7.) Kodwa ngaba simele sithi uYehova uye wasishiya ebumnyameni ngalo mbono? Hayi.

7, 8. (a) Itshintshe njani indlela ebesiwuqonda ngawo umbono kaHezekile? (b) Umbono kaHezekile wetempile wahluke njani kwizinto ezathethwa nguPawulos xa wayecacisa itempile?

⁷ Njengokuba besele sitshilo, iincwadi zethu bezikade zisithi uHezekile wabona itempile enkulu kaYehova, le umpostile  uPawulos wabhala ngayo kwileta yakhe eya kumaHebhere. Kodwa emva kokufundisisa ngakumbi, kuye kwabonakala ukuba uHezekile akanakuba wabona itempile enkulu kaYehova. Ngoba?

⁸ Okokuqala, indlela uPawulos ayicacisa ngayo itempile ayifani nezinto ezabonwa nguHezekile. Ngokomzekelo, umpostile uPawulos wayenza yacaca into yokuba intente engcwele yexesha likaMoses, yayisisithunzi okanye yayimela into eseza kwenzeka. Njengetempile kaSolomon nekaZerubhabheli ezazenziwe ngendlela efanayo, intente engcwele yayinegumbi elalibizwa ngokuthi “eYona Ngcwele.” UPawulos wathi eli gumbi ‘yindawo engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso weyokwenene.’ Yintoni le yokwenene? Wathi: ‘Lizulu ngokwalo.’ (Heb. 9:3, 24) Ngaba uHezekile yena wabona izulu? Hayi. Ngokungafaniyo neminye imibono, akukho nto kumbono kaHezekile ebonisa ukuba wayebona izinto zasezulwini.​—Thelekisa noDaniyeli 7:9, 10, 13, 14.

9, 10. Yahluke njani indlela ekwakubingelelwa ngayo kumbono kaHezekile kule ikwitempile enkulu kaYehova ecaciswa nguPawulos?

⁹ Omnye umahluko okhoyo kumbono kaHezekile nakwindlela uPawulos ayicacisa ngayo itempile, kukwenziwa kwemibingelelo. UHezekile weva imiyalelo eya ebantwini, kwiinkosi nakubabingeleli ethetha ngokwenza imibingelelo. Kwakufuneka benze imibingelelo yezono zabo. Babeza kwenza nemibingelelo yobuhlobo, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba babeyityela kumagumbi okutyela etempile. (Hez. 43:18, 19; 44:11, 15, 27; 45:15-20, 22-25) Ngaba kwenziwa imibingelelo efanayo kwitempile enkulu kaYehova?

¹⁰ Impendulo ifumaneka kumazwi kaPawulos athi: “Xa uKristu wezayo, wayengumbingeleli omkhulu obangele izinto ezilungileyo zenzeka, wangena kwintente ebaluleke ngakumbi negqibeleleyo engenziwanga ngazandla, oko kukuthi engekhoyo phakathi kwezinto ezidaliweyo emhlabeni. Wangena negazi lakhe, hayi negazi leebhokhwe nelamathole eenkomo aziinkunzi. Wangena kwaba kanye waza wasikhulula ngonaphakade esonweni.” (Heb. 9:11, 12) Ngoko kwitempile enkulu kaYehova kwenziwa umbingelelo omnye nje qha. Lo mbingelelo yintlawulelo, ibe inikelwa nguMbingeleli Omkhulu Kakhulu, uYesu Kristu. Kuyacaca ke ukuba uHezekile zange abone itempile enkulu kaYehova kumbono wakhe wetempile, ekwakusenziwa kuyo imibingelelo emininzi yeebhokhwe neenkomo.

11. Kutheni yayingeloxesha elifanelekileyo lokuba uYehova achaze ngetempile enkulu ngexesha likaHezekile?

¹¹ Sithini isizathu sesibini sokuba sithi uHezekile akanakuba wayebone itempile enkulu kaYehova? Yayingekabi lixesha elifanelekileyo lokuba uYehova achaze ngayo. Khumbula ukuba abantu  bokuqala ababeza kuva ngalo mbono kaHezekile ngabantu ababethinjwe eBhabhiloni. Babelawulwa nguMthetho KaMoses. Xa bekhululwe ekuthinjweni, babeza kubuyela eYerusalem baze bathobele uMthetho ngokuphinda bakhe itempile nesibingelelo sayo. Babeza kuqhubeka besenza imibingelelo apho, ibe bayenza loo nto iminyaka ephantse ibe yi-600. Khawuyicinge le nto, inoba ayeza kuthini amaYuda xa esiva ngombono kaHezekile othetha ngetempile kaYehova, ibe kule tempile umbingeleli omkhulu unikele ngobomi bakhe, zaza zonke ezinye iindlela zokunikela zayeka ukusebenza? Ayeza kucinga ntoni emva kokuva ngalo mbono? Ayengazukuwujongela phantsi uMthetho KaMoses? Ngoko siyabona ukuba, uYehova usoloko ezichaza ngexesha elifanelekileyo izinto.

12-14. Udibana njani umbono kaHezekile nendlela uPawulos ayicacisa ngayo itempile kaYehova? (Jonga nebhokisi ethi “Iitempile Azifani, Nezinto Esizifundayo Azifani.”)

¹² Udibana njani ke umbono kaHezekile nendlela uPawulos ayicacisa ngayo itempile kaYehova? Khumbula ukuba uPawulos zange azithathe kumbono kaHezekile wetempile izinto awazithethayo, kodwa wazithatha kwintente engcwele eyayikho ngexesha likaMoses. Ewe kona, ezinye izinto awathetha ngazo zazikhona kwitempile kaSolomon nekaZerubhabheli, ibe zazikhona  nakumbono kaHezekile. Ngoko, uHezekile noPawulos bathetha ngezinto ezahlukeneyo. * Izinto abazibhalayo azifani ncam kodwa ziyahambelana. Njani?

¹³ Kaloku kuPawulos, sifunda ngelungiselelo likaYehova lokuba akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo. KuHezekile sifunda ngendlela uYehova afuna ukukhonzwa ngayo. UPawulos ucacisa ukuba zithetha ntoni izinto ezikule tempile, njengombingeleli omkhulu, imibingelelo, isibingelelo neYona Ngcwele, ukuze sifunde ngeli lungiselelo likaYehova lokumkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo. Kanti umbono kaHezekile wetempile uneenkcukacha ezininzi ezisifundisa ngendlela uYehova afuna ukukhonzwa ngayo.

¹⁴ Ithetha ukuthini ke yonke le nto? Ayithethi ukuba umbono kaHezekile awubalulekanga kangako kuthi namhlanje. Ukuze sibone ukuba lo mbono usinceda njani, masijonge indlela owawanceda ngayo amaYuda awayethembekile ngexesha likaHezekile nasemva kwalo.

15. (a) Yayisithini eyona nto yayithethwa ngumbono kaHezekile? (b) Ngowuphi umahluko okhoyo kuHezekile 8 nakuHezekile 40 ukuya ku-48?

¹⁵ Ukuze siphendule lo mbuzo, makhe sijonge iimpendulo zemibuzo ebufana nalo eziza kusinceda siyiqonde kakuhle  le nto. Okokuqala, yayisithini eyona nto yayithethwa ngumbono kaHezekile? Yayisithi uYehova uza kukhonzwa ngendlela ayifunayo! Le nto yayimcacele uHezekile. Kaloku wayesele ebhale amazwi akuHezekile 8, apho uYehova wayembonise imeko embi yetempile yaseYerusalem. Umele ukuba wayonwabile xa wayebhala into eyahluke kakhulu kuleyo, kwisahluko 40 ukuya ku-48. Kulo mbono, akukhonzwa zithixo, kodwa kukhonzwa uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo. Owona mzekelo wendlela yokukhonza uYehova ngala ndlela ubhalwe kuMthetho KaMoses.

16. Umbono kaHezekile wetempile ungqinelana njani nento eyathethwa nguIsaya kwiminyaka engaphezu kweyi-100 ngaphambili?

¹⁶ Ukuze uYehova akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo kwakuza kufuneka unyuke umgangatho wokumkhonza. Kwiminyaka engaphezu kweyi-100 ngaphambi koko, uIsaya wabhala wathi: “Ekupheleni kwemihla, intaba yendlu kaYehova iza kuzinza izivelele iincopho zeentaba, iphakanyiswe ngaphezu kweenduli.” (Isa. 2:2) UIsaya wayibona kwangaphambili into yokuba uYehova uza kuphinda akhonzwe ngendlela ayifunayo, uze unyuke umgangatho ngokungathi ukhonzwa phezu kweyona ntaba iphakamileyo. Yayindawoni indlu kaYehova kumbono kaHezekile? ‘Yayikwintaba ephakame kakhulu.’ (Hez. 40:2) Ngoko lo mbono kaHezekile usenza sibone ukuba uYehova useza kukhonzwa ngendlela ayifunayo.

17. Zeziphi ezinye izinto uHezekile awazibonayo ezikuHezekile isahluko 40 ukuya ku-48?

¹⁷ Makhe sijonge ezinye izinto uHezekile awazibonayo nawazivayo, ezikuHezekile isahluko 40 ukuya ku-48. Wayebukele ingelosi imeta iigeyithi, udonga, iiyadi, nendawo engcwele yetempile. (Hez. 40-42) Emva koko kwenzeka into emangalisayo: kwafika uYehova etempileni ngobuqaqawuli bakhe. UYehova waluleka abantu bakhe ababesenza izinto ezimbi, ababingeleli neenkosi. (Hez. 43:1-12; 44:10-31; 45:9-12) UHezekile wabona amanzi ephuma kwindawo engcwele esiya kuLwandle Olufileyo, kwaye ebangela ukuba izinto ezininzi zikwazi ukuphila kolu lwandle. (Hez. 47:1-12) Wabona xa kwakusabiwa imihlaba, ibe uYehova wayekhonzwa kakuhle kwindawo engasesiphakathini selizwe. (Hez. 45:1-8; 47:13–48:35) Yeyiphi eyona nto yayithethwa ngulo mbono? Kuyacaca ukuba apha uYehova wayeqinisekisa abantu bakhe ukuba useza kukhonzwa ngendlela ayifunayo, ibe uza kunyuka umgangatho wokumkhonza. Wayeza kuba phakathi kwabantu bakhe, abasikelele, abaphilise kuze kuphinde kubekho ucwangco elizweni.

18. Ngaba lo mbono wawumele ujongwe njengento yokoqobo? Cacisa.

¹⁸ Okwesibini, ngaba lo mbono wawumele ujongwe njengento yokoqobo? Hayi. UHezekile nabantu ababethinjiwe awabaxelela ngalo mbono kusenokwenzeka ukuba bayiqonda into  yokuba awumele ujongwe njengento yokoqobo. Ngoba? Khumbula ukuba uHezekile wayibona le tempile ‘ikwintaba ephakame kakhulu.’ Nangona le nto yayingqinelana nesiprofeto sikaIsaya, le tempile yayingekho kwindawo eyayikuyo itempile yokoqobo. Itempile kaSolomon yayakhiwe kwiNtaba YaseMoriya eYerusalem, ibe yayiza kuphinda yakhiwe apho. Kodwa ngaba loo ntaba ‘yayiphakame kakhulu’? Hayi. INtaba YaseMoriya ijikelezwe ziintaba ezilingana nayo nezingaphezulu. Enye into, itempile eyabonwa nguHezekile yayinkulu kakhulu. Ndlela le yayinkulu ngayo, yayingasoze ikwazi ukuhlala phezu kweNtaba YaseMoriya. Yayingenakwanela nakwisixeko seYerusalem yexesha likaSolomon. Nabantu abathinjiweyo babengalindelanga ukuba ibe ngamanzi okoqobo la aphuma kwindawo engcwele esiya kuLwandle Olufileyo, aze abangele ukuba izinto ezininzi zikwazi ukuphila kolo lwandle. Enye into, imida ekulo mbono ayihambelani nendlela ezime ngayo iintaba ezikwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Ngoko lo mbono wawungamele ujongwe njengento yokoqobo.

19-21. UYehova wayefuna ubenze bazive njani abantu umbono kaHezekile, ibe kutheni wawunokubenza bazive ngaloo ndlela?

¹⁹ Okwesithathu, lo mbono wawumele ubenze bazive njani abantu ababethinjiwe? Babeza kuthi xa becinga ngokuphakama kwendlela uYehova amele akhonzwe ngayo, babe neentloni.  UYehova wathi kuHezekile, “xelela indlu kaSirayeli ngale tempile.” Kwakuza kufuneka awucacise kakuhle umbono wetempile ukuze amaSirayeli abe ngathi ‘ahlolisisa iplani yayo.’ Kwakutheni ukuze kufuneke amaSirayeli acingisise ngale tempile? Sele sibonile ukuba ayengazukuyakha kwakhona. Kodwa njengoko uYehova watshoyo, ayeyihlola ukuze ‘eve ihlazo lezono zawo.’​—Funda uHezekile 43:10-12.

²⁰ Yintoni emele ukuba yenza lo mbono wachukumisa izazela zabantu yaza yabenza baziva behlazekile? UHezekile waxelelwa le nto: “Nyana womntu, jongisisa, ubukele uze umamelisise yonke into endikuxelela yona ngemiyalelo nemithetho yetempile kaYehova.” (Hez. 44:5) Wayesoloko esiva ngemiyalelo nangemithetho. (Hez. 43:11, 12; 44:24; 46:14) Wayekhumbula nendlela uYehova afuna zenziwe ngayo izinto, eziquka ukuba imele ibe nde kangakanani ikubhite, kunye nokuba ufuna kusetyenziswe amatye achanileyo okukala. (Hez. 40:5; 45:10-12; thelekisa neMizekeliso 16:11.) Kulo mbono nje umnye, uHezekile ubhala ngolwimi lwakhe amagama athi “umlinganiselo,” “ukumeta” namanye amagama athetha into enye nala, izihlandlo ezingaphezu kweziyi-50!

²¹ Wayebafundisa ntoni abantu bakhe uYehova xa wayethetha ngemilinganiselo, ukumeta, imithetho nemiyalelo? Kubonakala ukuba wayebakhumbuza le nto ibalulekileyo: NguYehova kuphela onokumisela indlela amele akhonzwe ngayo. Abantu ababeyekile ukumkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo babemele bazive behlazekile! Lo mbono wawafundisa njani amaYuda loo nto? Siza kuva imizekelo yoku kwisahluko esilandelayo. Loo nto iza kusinceda sibone kakuhle ukuba uthetha ntoni kuthi namhlanje lo mbono.