Umpheme wawuyindawo ongena ngayo uma uya egunjini eliNgcwele lethempeli. Izinguqulo ze-New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures ezinyatheliswe ngaphambi kuka-2023 zithi, “umpheme ongaphambili wawuyizingalo ezingu-20 ubude, ulingana nobubanzi bendlu, ukuphakama kwawo kwakungu-120.” (2 IziKr. 3:4) Ezinye izinguqulo nazo zithi ukuphakama kompheme “kwakuyizingalo ezingu-120,” okwakwenza ukuphakama kwawo kube amamitha angu-53!

Nokho, IBhayibheli—ImiBhalo Engcwele ebukezwe ngo-2023 esemshinini wezobuchwepheshe ithi ngompheme wethempeli likaSolomoni: “Ukuphakama kwawo kwakuyizingalo ezingu-20,” noma amamitha angaba ngu-9. a Cabanga ngezizathu ezimbalwa zalokhu kuqonda okusha.

Akukhulunywa ngokuphakama kompheme kweyoku-1 AmaKhosi 6:3. Kulelo vesi umbhali uJeremiya ukhuluma ngobude bompheme nokuwukala usuka phambi kwendlu, akakhulumi ngokuphakama kwawo. Esahlukweni esilandelayo, ube esechaza ngokucacile ezinye izinto eziphawulekayo ngethempeli, kuhlanganise uLwandle lwensimbi, izinqola zamanzi eziyishumi, nezinsika zethusi ezimbili ezazingaphandle kompheme. (1 AmaKh. 7:​15-37) Uma ngempela umpheme wawungamamitha angaphezu kwangu-50 ubude futhi umude kunethempeli, kungani uJeremiya engazange akhulume ngokuphakama kwawo? Ngisho nangemva kwamakhulu eminyaka kamuva, ababhali abangamaJuda babhala ukuthi umpheme wawungemude kunethempeli likaSolomoni.

Izazi ziyakungabaza ukuthi izindonga zethempeli zazingakwazi ukusekela umpheme oyizingalo ezingu-120 ubude. Ezikhathini zasendulo, izakhiwo ezenziwe ngamatshe nangezitini, njengamasango ethempeli laseGibhithe, zaziba banzi kakhulu ngezansi bese ziyancipha phezulu. Kodwa ithempeli likaSolomoni lalihlukile. Izazi zikholelwa ukuthi ukuba wugqinsi kwezindonga zalo kwakungekho ngaphezu kwezingalo ezingu-6 noma amamitha angu-2.7. Ngakho isazi-mlando esingumklami wezakhiwo uTheodor Busink saphetha ngokuthi: “Ngenxa yokuba ugqinsi kwezindonga zendawo owawungena kuyo uma uya ethempelini, umpheme wawungeke ube izingalo ezingu-120 [ubude].”

Kungenzeka ukuthi imibhalo yokuqala yencwadi yeyesi-2 IziKronike 3: 4 ayikopishwanga ngokunembile. Nakuba eminye imibhalo yesandla yasendulo ithi “120” kuleli vesi, eminye imibhalo enokwethenjelwa njenge-Codex Alexandrinus yekhulu lesihlanu ne-Codex Ambrosianus yekhulu lesithupha, ithi “izingalo ezingu-20.” Yini eyayingenza umbhali abhale “u-120” ngephutha? NgesiHebheru igama elithi “ikhulu” nelithi “izingalo” acishe abhalwe ngendlela efanayo. Ngakho kungenzeka ukuthi umbhali wabhala igama elithi “ikhulu” esikhundleni selithi “izingalo.”

Yiqiniso ukuthi nakuba sizama ukuqonda le mininingwane nokulibonisa njengoba lalinjalo ithempeli likaSolomoni, sigxila kakhulu kulokho elalibhekisela kukho leli thempeli—ithempeli elikhulu elingokomoya. Sibonga kakhulu ngokuthi uJehova umeme zonke izinceku zakhe ukuba zimkhonze kulelo thempeli!—Heb. 9:​11-14; IsAm. 3:12; 7:​9-17.