Zolemba Zokondweretsa za Josephus

OPHUNZIRA mbiri yakale asinkhasinkha kwanthaŵi yaitali zolemba zokondweretsa za Josephus. Wobadwa pambuyo pa zaka zinayi zokha imfa ya Kristu itachitika, anali mboni yodzionera pakukwaniritsidwa koziziritsa nkhongono kwa ulosi wa Yesu wonena za mtundu Wachiyuda wa m’zaka za zana loyamba. Josephus anali kazembe wankhondo, woyanjanitsa, Mfarisi, ndi munthu wophunzira.

Zolemba za Josephus zili ndi maumboni ambiri ochititsa chidwi. Zimasonyeza mpambo wa Baibulo zikumaperekanso njira yodziŵira mapu ndi mkhalidwe wa malo a Palestina. Mposadabwitsa kuti ambiri amaona mabuku ake kukhala chuma choti awonjezere palaibulale yawo!

Kubadwa Kwake

Joseph ben Matthias, kapena Josephus, anabadwa mu 37 C.E., chaka choyamba cha ulamuliro wa mfumu Yachiroma Caligula. Atate wake a Josephus anali a m’banja la ansembe. Amake, iye anatero, anali mbadwa ya Jonathan, mkulu wa ansembe wa m’banja la Hasmon.

Akali mnyamata, Josephus anali wophunzira waphamphu wa Chilamulo cha Mose. Iye anapenda mosamalitsa timagulu topatuka titatu Tachiyuda​—Afarisi, Asaduki, ndi Aesene. Pokonda kotsirizirako, iye anasankha kukhala kuchipululu kwa zaka zitatu ndi munthu wina wodzipatula wotchedwa Bannus, mwinamwake iyeyu anali wa kagulu ka Aesene. Poleka zimenezi pausinkhu wa zaka 19, Josephus anabwerera ku Yerusalemu ndi kukagwirizana ndi Afarisi.

Kumka ku Roma ndi Kubwerako

Josephus anamka ku Roma mu 64 C.E. kukalanditsa ansembe Achiyuda amene kazembe wa Yudeya Felix anatumiza kwa Mfumu Nero kukaimbidwa mlandu. Atakumana ndi ngozi ya kusweka kwa ngalaŵa paulendowo, Josephus anapulumuka imfa. Apaulendo 80 okha pa 600 a m’ngalaŵayo anapulumutsidwa.

Mkati mwa ulendo wa ku Roma wa Josephus, wa m’seŵero wina Wachiyuda anamdziŵikitsa kwa mkazi wa Nero, mfumukazi Poppaea. Mkaziyo anachita mbali yaikulu m’chipambano cha ulendo wakewo. Kukongola kwa mzindawo kunakhomerezeka kosatha m’maganizo mwa Josephus.

Pamene Josephus anabwerera ku Yudeya, kupandukira Roma kunali kutazikika zolimba m’maganizo a Ayuda. Iye anayesayesa kuchenjeza anthu akwawo za kupanda pake kwa kuchita nkhondo ndi Roma. Polephera kuwaletsa ndipo mwinamwake pokhala ndi mantha akuti akalingaliridwa kukhala mdyera kuŵiri, iye anavomera kulandira udindo monga kazembe wa magulu ankhondo Achiyuda ku Galileya. Josephus anasonkhanitsa amuna ake ankhondo ndi kuwaphunzitsa ndi kuwapezera zofunika pokonzekera kumenyana ndi magulu Achiroma​—koma mosaphula kanthu. Galileya anatengedwa ndi gulu lankhondo la Vespasian. Pambuyo pakuzingidwa kwa masiku 47, malinga a Josephus ku Jotapata anagwetsedwa.

Pamene anadzipereka mogonja, Josephus mwanzeru ananeneratu kuti Vespasian akakhala mfumu posachedwa. Ataikidwa m’ndende koma ali wochotseredwa chilango chifukwa cha kuneneratu kumeneku, Josephus anamasulidwa pamene kuneneratuko kunachitikadi. Pamenepo panali pamasinthiro a moyo wake. Mkati mwa nkhondo yonseyo, iye anatumikira Aroma monga womasulira ndi woyanjanitsa. Posonyeza uyang’aniro wa Vespasian ndi ana ake aamuna Titus ndi Domitian pa iye, Josephus anawonjezera dzina la banjalo Flavius padzina lake.

Zolemba za Flavius Josephus

Zolemba zakale kwambiri za Josephus zimatchedwa The Jewish War. Kukukhulupiriridwa kuti iye analinganiza cholembedwa chimenechi cha mavoliyumu asanu ndi aŵiri kuti asonyeze Ayuda ndi kafotokozedwe kogwira mtima mphamvu yaikulu ya Roma ndi kupereka chenjezo loletsa zipanduko mtsogolo. Zolemba zimenezi zimafotokoza mosamalitsa mbiri ya Ayuda kuyambira pakulandidwa kwa Yerusalemu ndi Antiochus Epiphanes (m’zaka za zana lachiŵiri B.C.E.) kufikira m’chipwirikiti cha 67 C.E. Monga mboni yodzionera, pamenepo Josephus akufotokoza nkhondoyo akumathera mu 73 C.E.

Buku lina la Josephus linali The Jewish Antiquities, mbiri ya Ayuda yokhala m’mavoliyumu 20. Likumayamba ndi kufotokoza Genesis ndi chilengedwe, limapitirizabe kufikira pakuulika kwa nkhondo ndi Roma. Josephus amatsatira mosamalitsa dongosolo la nkhani za Baibulo, akumawonjezera mamasulidwe amwambo ndi ndemanga zina.

Josephus analemba mbiri ya iye mwini yotchedwa Life. Mmenemo amayesayesa kufotokoza molungamitsa kaimidwe kake mkati mwa nkhondoyo ndipo amayesayesa kuchepetsa zinenezo zoperekedwa pa iye ndi Justus wa ku Tiberiya. Buku lachinayi​—mavoliyumu aŵiri opepesa otchedwa Against Apion​—limafotokoza motetezera Ayuda pakuonedwa molakwa.

Chidziŵitso cha Mawu a Mulungu

Palibe chikayikiro chakuti zambiri za mumbiri ya Josephus nzolondola. M’buku lake lotchedwa Against Apion, iye amasonyeza kuti Ayuda sanaphatikize mabuku a Apocrypha monga mbali ya Malemba ouziridwa. Iye amachitira umboni za kulongosoka ndi kugwirizana kwa malembo aumulungu. Josephus amati: “Ife tilibe mabuku ambirimbiri pakati pathu, osagwirizana ndi otsutsana, . . . koma mabuku makumi aŵiri ndi aŵiri okha [chiŵerengero chogwirizana ndi kugaŵidwa kwa Malemba kwathu kwamakono m’mabuku 39] amene ali ndi mbiri yonse ya nthaŵi yakale; amene amakhulupiriridwa moyenera kukhala aumulungu.”

Mu The Jewish Antiquities, Josephus amawonjezera umboni wina wokondweretsa kucholembedwa Chabaibulo. Iye amati “Isake anali wazaka makumi aŵiri ndi zisanu zakubadwa” pamene Abrahamu anammanga manja ndi miyendo monga nsembe. Malinga ndi kunena kwa Josephus, atathandiza kumanga guwa la nsembe, Isake ananena kuti “‘anali wosayenerera kubadwa poyamba, ngati akakana chifuniro cha Mulungu ndi atate wake’ . . . Chotero anapita nthaŵi yomweyo paguwalo kukaperekedwa nsembe.”

Ponena za cholembedwa Chamalemba cha kutuluka kwa Israyeli mu Igupto wakale, Josephus amawonjezera maumboni awa apadera kuti: “Chiŵerengero chimene chinawalondola chinali magaleta ankhondo mazana asanu ndi limodzi, limodzi ndi amuna okwera pa akavalo zikwi makumi asanu, ndi amuna oyenda ndi miyendo zikwi mazana aŵiri, onse onyamula zida zankhondo.” Josephus amanenanso kuti “pamene Samueli anali wazaka khumi ndi ziŵiri, anayamba kulosera: ndipo panthaŵi ina ali mtulo, Mulungu anamuitana ndi dzina lake.”​—Yerekezerani ndi 1 Samueli 3:2-21.

Zolemba zina za Josephus zimapereka chidziŵitso pankhani za misonkho, malamulo, ndi zochitika. Iye amatchula Salome kukhala mkazi amene anavina paphwando la Herode ndi amene anapempha mutu wa Yohane Mbatizi. (Marko 6:17-26) Zochuluka za zimene timadziŵa ponena za anthu otchedwa Herode zinalembedwa ndi Josephus. Iye amanenanso kuti “kuti abise kukalamba kwake kwambiriko, [Herode] ananika tsitsi lake kukhala lakuda.”

Chipanduko Chachikulu Chotsutsa Roma

Zaka 33 zokha Yesu atanena ulosi wake wonena za Yerusalemu ndi kachisi wake, kukwaniritsidwa kwake kunayamba kuchitika. Timagulu tosintha zinthu Tachiyuda mu Yerusalemu tinatsimikizira za kuchotsa goli Lachiroma. Mu 66 C.E., mbiri ya zimenezi inasonkhezera kumemetsedwa ndi kutumizidwa kwa magulu ankhondo Achiroma pansi pa kazembe wa ku Suriya Cestius Gallus. Cholinga chawo chinali cha kukaletsa chipandukocho ndi kulanga ochimwa ake. Atachititsa chisakazo m’milaga ya Yerusalemu, amuna ankhondo a Cestius anamanga misasa mozinga malinga amzindawo. Pogwiritsira ntchito njira yotchedwa testudo, Aromawo anagwirizanitsa zishango zawo mwachipambano zikumaonekera monga ngati msana wa kamba kuti adzitetezere kwa mdani. Pochitira umboni za chipambano cha njira imeneyi, Josephus akunena kuti: “Mivi imene inaponyedwa inafika, ndipo inangoterereka popanda kuwadzetsera ngozi iliyonse; chotero asilikaliwo anagwetsa linga, popanda kuvulala iwo eniwo, ndi kukonzekera zinthu zonse kaamba ka kutentha chipata cha kachisi.”

“Ndiyeno zinachitika kuti,” akutero Josephus, “Cestius . . . anachotsa asilikali ake pamalowo . . . Anachoka mumzindawo, popanda chifukwa chilichonse.” Mwachionekere popanda cholinga cha kulemekza Mwana wa Mulungu, Josephus analemba za chochitika chenichenicho chimene Akristu mu Yerusalemu anali atayembekezera. Chinali cha kukwaniritsidwa kwa ulosi wa Yesu Kristu! Zaka zingapo poyambirirapo, Mwana wa Mulungu adachenjeza kuti: “Pamene pali ponse mudzaona Yerusalemu atazingidwa ndi magulu a ankhondo, zindikirani pamenepo kuti chipululutso chake chayandikira. Pamenepo iwo ali m’Yudeya athaŵire kumapiri, ndi iwo ali mkati mwa uwo atuluke, ndi iwo ali kumilaga asaloŵemo. Chifukwa ameneŵa ndi masiku akubwezera, kuti zonse zidalembedwa zichitike.” (Luka 21:20-22) Monga momwe Yesu analangizira, otsatira ake okhulupirika anathaŵa mumzindawo mofulumira, nakhala kutali, ndipo anapulumutsidwa paululu umene unagwera mumzindawo.

Pamene magulu ankhondo Achiroma anabweranso mu 70 C.E., zotulukapo zake zinalembedwa mwatsatanetsatane kwambiri ndi Josephus. Mwana wamkulu wa Vespasian, Kazembe Titus, anadza kudzagonjetsa Yerusalemu, ndi kachisi wake wokongolayo. Mkati mwa mzindawo, magulu omenyana anayesayesa kulanda mphamvu. Iwo anayamba kugwiritsira ntchito njira zankhanza, ndipo mwazi wambiri unatayika. Ena “anathedwa nzeru chifukwa cha masoka okhala pakati pawo, chakuti anakhumba kuloŵerera kwa Aroma,” akumayembekezera “kulanditsidwa pamavuto awo,” akutero Josephus. Iye akutcha zigaŵengazo kuti “akuba” owononga chuma cha anthu olemera ndi kupha amuna ofunika​—awo amene analingaliridwa kukhala ofunitsitsa kulolerana ndi Aroma.

Mkati mwa nkhondo yachiŵeniŵeni, mikhalidwe ya moyo mu Yerusalemu inakhala yoipa kwakukulu, ndipo akufa sanaikidwe m’manda. Osonkhezera chipanduko iwo eniwo “anamenyana, pamene anali kuponda myulu ya mitembo.” Anafunkhira anthu zinthu zawo, kupha anthu chifukwa cha chakudya ndi chuma. Mfuu za okanthidwa zinali zosatha.

Titus anapempha Ayudawo kuti apereke mogonja mzindawo ndipo motero adzipulumutse. Iye “anatumiza Josephus kukalankhula nawo m’chinenero chawo; pakuti analingalira kuti mwina iwo angavomereze pakuchonderera kwa munthu wa kwawo.” Koma iwo anatonza Josephus. Kenako Titus anamanga linga la zisonga mozinga mzinda wonsewo. (Luka 19:43) Chiyembekezo chonse chitatha ndipo kuyendayenda kutaletsedwa, njala “inapha anthu mwa nyumba zawo ndi mabanja awo onse.” Nkhondo yopitirizabeyo inawonjezera chiŵerengero cha imfa. Pokwaniritsa ulosi wa Baibulo mosadziŵa, Titus analanda Yerusalemu. Pambuyo pake, ataona malinga ake aakulu ndi nsanja zotetezereka, iye anadzuma kuti: “Sanali munthu wina aliyense koma Mulungu amene anathamangitsa Ayuda m’malo otetezereka ameneŵa.” Ayuda oposa miliyoni imodzi anafa.​—Luka 21:5, 6, 23, 24.

Nkhondo Itatha

Nkhondoyo itatha Josephus anamka ku Roma. Posamaliridwa ndi a banja la Flavius, iye anakhala ndi moyo monga nzika Yachiroma m’nyumba imene kale inali yachifumu ya Vespasian ndi kupatsidwa ndalama zolandira pakupuma ntchito za muufumuwo limodzi ndi mphatso zochokera kwa Titus. Ndiyeno Josephus anapitirizabe ntchito yolemba mabuku.

Nkokondweretsa kudziŵa kuti mwachionekere anali Josephus amene anayambitsa mawu akuti “Teokrase.” Ponena za mtundu Wachiyuda, iye analemba kuti: “Boma lathu . . . lingatchedwe kuti la Teokrase, mwa kupereka ulamuliro ndi mphamvu kwa Mulungu.”

Josephus sananene konse kuti anali Mkristu. Iye sanalembe zolembazo mouziridwa ndi Mulungu. Komabe, m’zolemba zokondweretsa za mbiri za Josephus muli chidziŵitso chopindulitsa.

[Chithunzi patsamba 31]

Josephus pamalinga a Yerusalemu