“Izingcaphuno Zezindinyana ZeBhayibheli Ezindala Kakhulu Kwezisatholakele”

EMINYAKENI engu-25 edlule, izazi zemivubukulo zakwa-Israyeli zathola into eyisimanga ngempela. Zathola imiqulu emibili emincane yesiliva ibhalwe amavesi eBhayibheli emhumeni okungcwatshwa kuwo ongasemithambekeni yeSigodi SikaHinomu eJerusalema. Le miqulu yayingeyenkathi yangaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema abaseBhabhiloni ngo-607 B.C.E. La mavesi acaphuna ingxenye yezibusiso ezilotshwe kuNumeri 6:24-26. Igama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Jehova, lavela izikhathi eziningana kuyo yomibili le miqulu. Le mibhalo ichazwe ngokuthi “imivubukulo emidala kakhulu esatholakele yezwe lasendulo enezindinyana ezithathwe eBhayibhelini LesiHebheru.”

Nokho, ezinye izazi zayingabaza le nkathi futhi zaphikisa ngokuthi le miqulu yalotshwa ekhulwini lesibili B.C.E. Esinye isizathu sokungavumi kwazo ukuthi izinga lezithombe zokuqala zale miqulu emincane kakhulu lalingakuvumeli ukuba kuhlolisiswe kahle yonke imininingwane. Ukuze kuxazululwe le nkinga yenkathi, ithimba lezazi liye lenza olunye ucwaningo. Lasebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bamuva bokuthatha nokugeza izithombe ngemishini ye-computer ukuze liveze izithombe zohlobo oluyi-digital zale miqulu. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo olusha isanda kukhishwa. Leli thimba lafinyelela kuziphi iziphetho?

Okokuqala, izazi zigcizelela ukuthi imininingwane yezemivubukulo iyayisekela inkathi yangaphambi kokuthunjelwa eBhabhiloni. Okuphawulekayo lapho kubhekwa indlela yokuloba—ukunquma inkathi yemibhalo ngokubheka ubukhulu bezinhlamvu, isimo, indawo ezikuyo, ukulandelana kwazo nohlangothi ezibheke ngakulo—konke kubonisa inkathi efanayo, okungukuthi, engasekupheleni kwekhulu lesi-7 B.C.E. Ekugcineni, lapho licabangela ulimi olusetshenzisiwe, ukupelwa kwamagama, leli thimba liphetha ngokuthi: “Imininingwane ephathelene nolimi olusetshenzisiwe kulezi zingcwecwe [imiqulu] ivumelana nobufakazi bemivubukulo nobokuhlola indlela yokuloba mayelana nenkathi yale mibhalo.”

Iphephabhuku i-Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research lilufingqa kanje ucwaningo lwale miqulu yesiliva, ebuye yaziwe ngokuthi imibhalo yaseKetef Hinnom: “Ngakho singaqinisekisa isiphetho esafinyelelwa izazi eziningi esithi imibhalo ekulezi zingcwecwe ilondoloze izingcaphuno zezindinyana zeBhayibheli ezindala kakhulu kwezisatholakele.”

[Imithombo Yezithombe ekhasini 32]

Cave: Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est.; inscriptions: Photograph © Israel Museum, Jerusalem; courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority