“Hamba Uyogeza Echibini LaseSilowama”

NGEMVA kokuphulukisa indoda eyimpumputhe ngodaka, uJesu wathi kuyo: “Hamba uyogeza echibini laseSilowama.” Le ndoda yenza njengokusho kwakhe futhi ‘yabuya isibona.’ (Johane 9:6, 7) Lalikuphi leli Chibi LaseSilowama? Okutholakale ekuvubukuleni kwamuva kusinika ukwaziswa okusha ngokuthi lalikuphi.

Ababuki bamazwe abaningi baye bavakashela indawo eseJerusalema ebizwa ngokuthi iChibi LaseSilowama, bekholelwa ukuthi lalilapho ngempela ichibi elishiwo kuJohane 9:7. Le ndawo isekugcineni komhubhe kaHezekiya—umhubhe wamanzi ongamamitha angu-530 ubude owakhiwa ngekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E. Nokho, leli chibi elangekhulu lesine C.E. Lakhiwa “amaKristu” aseByzantium enza iphutha lapho ecabanga ukuthi ichibi okukhulunywa ngalo eVangelini likaJohane lalisekugcineni kwalo mhubhe.

Nokho, ngo-2004, abavubukuli bathola lokho abaphetha ngokuthi kuyiChibi LaseSilowama elalikhona ngesikhathi uJesu elapha emhlabeni. Lisendaweni engaba amamitha ayikhulu eningizimu-mpumalanga yendawo okwakucatshangwa ukuthi iyiChibi LaseSilowama. Balithola kanjani? Umasipala wayefuna ukulungisa ipayipi lendle kuyo le ndawo, ngakho wathumela izisebenzi ukuba ziyogubha ngemishini emikhulu. Umvubukuli owayesebenza budebuduze wabuka njengoba kwakugujwa futhi wabona kuvela izitebhisi ezimbili. Umsebenzi wamiswa futhi i-Israeli Antiquities Authority yagunyaza ukuba le ndawo imbiwe. Sekugujwe  uhlangothi olulodwa namakhona amabili aleli chibi elingamamitha cishe angu-70 ubude.

Kunohlweza olwatholakala lapho kumbiwa lwangonyaka wesibili nowesithathu nowesine yokuvukela kwamaJuda iRoma. Lokhu kuvukela kwenzeka phakathi kuka-66 no-70 C.E. Lolu hlweza lufakazela ukuthi leli chibi lasetshenziswa kwaze kwaba ngu-70 C.E. lapho iJerusalema libhujiswa amaRoma. Iphephabhuku i-Biblical Archaeology Review liyaphetha: “Ngakho-ke, leli chibi lasetshenziswa kwaze kwaphela ukuvukela, futhi alibange lisasetshenziswa ngemva kwalokho. Le ndawo eyayisesigodini uma iqhathaniswa nalo lonke elaseJerusalema, yayingahlalwa muntu kwaze kwaba ngezikhathi zaseByzantium. Minyaka yonke izimvula zasebusika zazigelezisa udaka ziluyise phansi echibini. Futhi ngemva kokuba amaRoma ebhubhise umuzi, leli chibi alibange lisahlanzwa. Phakathi namakhulu amaningi eminyaka, udaka lwagcwala futhi kancane kancane leli chibi lavaleka. Abavubukuli balithola ligqitshwe udaka olungamamitha angaba mathathu kwezinye izindawo.”

Kungani abafundi beBhayibheli abaqotho benesithakazelo endaweni iChibi LaseSilowama elalikuyo? Ngenxa yokuthi lokhu kubasiza ukuba bakuqonde kangcono ukuma kwezwe laseJerusalema ngekhulu lokuqala okukhulunywa kangaka ngakho emaVangelini akhuluma ngokuphila nangenkonzo kaJesu.

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

IChibi LaseSilowama elisanda kutholakala

[Umthombo]

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