“Amulindile Ndime”
“Lino amulindile ndime, mbwaamba Jehova.”—ZEFANIYA 3:8.
1. Nkucenjezya nzi nkwaakapa musinsimi Zefaniya, alimwi kubajatikizya buti bantu bapona sunu?
“BUZUBA bupati bwa-Jehova buli kufwaafwi.” Ooyu mulumbe wakucenjezya musinsimi Zefaniya wakuuambilizya akati-kati kamwaanda wamyaka wa 17 B.C.E. (Zefaniya 1:14) Businsimi bwakazuzikizigwa mukati kamyaka iili 40 naa 50, iciindi buzuba bwakucita lubeta lwa Jehova nobwakasikila Jerusalemu alimwi ayaayo masi aakanyanside bulelo bwa Jehova kwiinda mukupenzya bantu bakwe. Nkaambo nzi bantu bakumamanino aamwaanda ooyu wa 20 ncobajatikizigwa akaambo aka? Tukkede muciindi nobulaafwi loko kusika “buzuba bupati” bwa Jehova ibwamamanino. Mbweena mbuli kuciindi ca Zefaniya, “bukali bupati” bwa Jehova bulaafwi kubbebbela bantu basunu abo beelene aa Jerusalemu—Iba Kristendomu—alimwi amasi oonse aapenzya bantu ba Jehova akunyansya bulelo bwakwe bwazyoonse.—Zefaniya 1:4; 2:4, 8, 12, 13; 3:8; 2 Petro 3:12, 13.
Zefaniya—Kamboni Sicamba
2, 3. (a) Ino tuzi nzi kujatikizya Zefaniya, alimwi ncinzi citondezya kuti wakali kamboni wa Jehova sicamba? (b) Ntwaambo nzi tupa kuti tukonzye kuziba ciindi alimwi abusena oomo mwakacitilwa businsimi bwa Zefaniya?
2 Imusinsimi Zefaniya tazizilwe kapati, mbuli mbolyaamba zina lyakwe (Tsephan·yahʹ mu Ci-Hebrayo,) ikuti “Jehova Wasisa (Waliyobweda).” Pele mukwiindana abambi basinsimi, Zefaniya wakapa mulongo wamazyalani aakwe one, kupiluka mane kuli “Hezekiya.” (Zefaniya 1:1; amweezyanye a Isaya 1:1; Jeremiya 1:1; Ezekiele 1:3.) Eeci ncintu ceenzu cakuti bunji bwabasikupandulula bamwaamba kuti mmwanaa muzyukululwa wa Mwami Hezekiya. Ikuti kali wakali boobo, nkokuti Zefaniya wakali waluzubo lwabwami, eelyo eci cakali kuyooyungizya kusinganya kwakwe kuyumu ikwalubeta kubami bama Juda alimwi akutondezya kuti wakali kamboni wa Jehova sicamba. Mbwaakazi kabotu mbuyakabede nsi ya Jerusalemu alimwi azyakali kucitika mumabuwa aabulelo upa muzeezo wakuti ambweni lubeta lwa Jehova wakali kulwaambilizya mukati mwini mumunzi mupati.—Amubone Zefaniya 1:8-11.
3 Nokuba kuti Zefaniya wakaambilizya lubeta lwa Leza “[ku]bami” bama Juda (bamasibbuku, naa baalu bamikowa) alimwi “[a]bana bamwami,” cilalibonya kuti lwakwe mwami takwe naakamubanda zina mukutongooka kwakwe.a (Zefaniya 1:8; 3:3) Eeci cipa muzeezo wakuti Mwami Josiya wakatalikide kale kulibonya kulombozya bukombi busalala, nokuba kuti twalanga ciimo cibi cakatongookwa a Zefaniya, kulalibonya kuti taakaninga talika kucinca bukombi. Zyoonse ezi zipa muzeezo wakuti Zefaniya wakasinsima mucisi ca Juda mumyaka mitaanzi ya Josiya, walo wakalela kuzwa mu 659 kusikila mu 629 B.C.E. Icakutadooneka, kusungwaala kwa Zefaniya mukusinsima kwakabusya-busya manjezeezya aa Josiya kubona bukombi bwamituni, lunya, alimwi alweeno lwalo ilwakavwulide kapati mucisi ca Juda kuciindeeco alimwi kwakamukulwaizya kusoleka kulwana bukombi bwamituni kumbele.—2 Makani 34:1-3.
Jehova Ncaakalaa Bukali Bunji
4. Mmajwi nzi Jehova ngaakabelesya kwaamba bukali bwakwe kuli Juda a Jerusalemu?
4 Jehova wakalaa kaambo kabotu ikakunyemena basololi alimwi abantu bama Juda alimwi amunzi wayo mupati, Jerusalemu. Kwiinda mumusinsimi wakwe Zefaniya wakati: “Alimwi nzootandabika maanza aangu cakupenzya Juda abantu boonse bakede mu-Jerusalemu, elyo nzoonyonyoona mubusena obuno boonse ba-Baala basyeede azina lyaba-Kemari abapaizi, abaabo bakomba makamu makamu aakujulu atala amaanda, abaabo bakomba cakukonkezya Jehova akukonkezya mwami wabo.”—Zefaniya 1:4, 5.
5, 6. (a) Nciimo nzi cabukombi cakali mu Juda kuciindi ca Zefaniya? (b) Ino basololi mubulelo bwa Juda abantu babo bakali muciimo nzi?
5 Juda yakali yasofwaala kale amapobwe aaluzyalo aasampukide aakukomba Baala, alimwi akulingula kwazyamujulu ikujatikizya badaimona, alimwi akukomba leza wabana masi Milikamu. Kuti Milikamu ooyu uutegwa mwami wabo kali nguwena ngo Moleki, mbuli buyeeyela bamwi, nkokuti bukombi bwakubeja ibwa Juda bwakali kubikkilizya acisesemyo cakutuula bana. Micito yabukombi iili boobu yakali kusesemya kumeso aa Jehova. (1 Bami 11:5, 7; 14:23, 24; 2 Bami 17:16, 17) Bakanyemenwa kapati nkaambo aaba basikukomba mituni bakacili kulikonkezya zina lya Jehova. Taakacili kunoolekelede busofwaazi bwabukombi ibuli boobu eelyo wakali kuzoonyonyoona bapaizi bahedeni abanyinzi basiluleyo.
6 Kunze lyaboobo, basololi mubulelo bwa Juda bakali basilweeno. Bami bamumo bakali mbuli “balavu bavuluma” ibanzala, alimwi babetesi bamumo bakali buyo mbuli “baumpe” batakkuti ino. (Zefaniya 3:3) Bantu babo abalo bakatongookwa “kuzuzya maanda aabasimalelo abo lunya abubeji.” (Zefaniya 1:9) Kuyandisya lubono kwakalivwulide. Mbuzyakali boobu zintu, kubanji cakaba coolwe cakuti bayobolole lubono.—Zefaniya 1:13.
Kudooneka Buzuba bwa Jehova
7. Ino Zefaniya wakasinsima kakucili ciindi cilamfwu buti kabutana kusika “buzuba bupati bwa-Jehova,” alimwi bama Juda banji bakalaa ciimo nzi munzila yakumuuya?
7 Mbuli mbutwabona kale, iciimo cabukombi cibyaabi eeco cakavulide kuciindi ca Zefaniya citondezya kuti mulimo wakwe wakuucita kali kamboni alimwi kali musinsimi ciindi Imwami Josiya katanatalika kulwana bukombi bwamituni, munsi-munsi a 648 B.C.E. (2 Makani 34:4, 5) Aboobo kulalangilwa kuti Zefaniya wakasinsima myaka iitaleli ku 40 “buzuba bupati bwa-Jehova” kabutanasikila bwami bwa Juda. Mukati kaciindi eco, bama Juda banji bakali kudooneka eelyo ‘bakacileka’ kubelekela Jehova, bakaba balenga. Zefaniya ulabaamba aabo “baleka kutobela Jehova, abaabo batana kuyandaula Jehova nanka kumulangaula.” (Zefaniya 1:6) Kulibonya kuti bantu bamwi mu Juda bakalengaana, teebakalipenzya azya Leza pe.
8, 9. (a) Nkaambo nzi Jehova ncaakali kuzoobalingula “abo bantu bakede buyo mpobabede”? (b) Muunzila nzi Jehova mwaakali kuzoolanga bantu bakkede mu Juda abasololi babo babulelo ababukombi?
8 Jehova wakabazibya makanze aakwe aakubalingula aabo bakali kulitaminina kuba bantu bakwe. Akati kabaabo ibakali kulyaamba kumukomba, wakali kuzooyandaula baabo bakali kudooneka naa inga wakonzya antela ulayanda kunjilila mutwaambo twabantu. Wakaamba kuti: “Lino kuciindi eco njoolangaula moonse mu-Jerusalemu amalampi, nkabela njoouma abo bantu bakede buyo mpobabede, baamba mumyoyo yabo kuti, Jehova taciti cintu niciba cibotu niciba cibi.” (Zefaniya 1:12) Ijwi eli lya “bantu bakede buyo mpobabede” (kwaamba cimwi cicitika nokukumbwa waini) lijatikizya baabo bakkalilide, mbuli busiwa kunsi aanongo, alimwi ibatayandi kukopwa azyakwaambilizya kwakunjilila kwa Leza mumakani aabantu.
9 Jehova wakali kuzoolanga baabo bakkede mu Juda a Jerusalemu alimwi abapaizi abaabo ibakavwelenye kukomba kwakwe akwabuhedeni. Naa bakaliliibide, mbuli kuti bali mumudima mukati kabwaanda bwa Jerusalemu, wakali kuzoobayandaula amalambe aayo aakali kuzoopola kumunika mumudima wakumuuya mwalo mobakayubide. Wakali kuzoobasokomona kuzwa mubulenga bwakukomba, kusaanguna milumbe yalubeta, mpoona akucita caamba lubeta oolo.
“Buzuba Bupati bwa-Jehova Buli Kufwaafwi”
10. Mbuti Zefaniya mbwapandulula “buzuba bupati bwa-Jehova”?
10 Jehova kwiinda mumuuya uusalala wakapa Zefaniya kwambilizya kuti: “Buzuba bupati bwa-Jehova buli kufwaafwi, ncobeni buli kufwaafwi, bulafwambaana loko kusika. Lilamvwigwa ijwi lyabuzuba bwa-Jehova.” (Zefaniya 1:14) Ncobeni kwakali kuza mazuba mabi kubantu boonse—babe bapaizi, bami, babe bantu buyo—aabo ibakakaka kucenjezegwa akupiluka kubukombi busalala. Kabupandulula buzuba obo bwakucita lubeta, ibusinsimi bulaya ambele akwaamba kuti: “Buzuba obo mbuzuba bwabukali, mbuzuba bwamapenzi abwamafwabi, mbuzuba bwalupyopyongano abwalupilingano, mbuzuba bwamudima abwakusiya, mbuzuba bwamayoba busiya mbi. Mbuzuba bwamweembo abwakoongolola bwakulwisya minzi iizyungulukidwe lubaya amayake manzomwa malamfu.”—Zefaniya 1:15, 16.
11, 12. (a) Mmulumbe nzi walubeta iwakaambilizigwa kuli Jerusalemu? (b) Sena lubono lwakali kuzoobavwuna bama Juda?
11 Mumyaka misyoonto iizwela buyo, basikalumamba ba Babuloni bakali kuzoosaala Juda. Jerusalemu teeyakali kuzooloboka pe. Mabazu anjiyo aakukkala alimwi aamakwebo akali kuzoonyonyoonwa. “Elyo mubuzuba obo, mbwaamba Jehova, kuyooba ijwi lyakulila ku Mulyango wanswi, akoomoka kumunzi wabili, ajwi ipati lyakupwaya kuzilundu. Amuwuule nyoonse nomukede mu-Maketesi, nkaambo bantu boonse basambazi banyonyooka, boonse balemedwe mali balikoswedwe.”—Zefaniya 1:10, 11.
12 Mukukaka kusyoma kuti buzuba obo bwa Jehova bulaafwi, banji bama Juda bakajisi bubi mumakwebo aalaa mpindu kapati. Pesi kwiinda mumusinsimi wakwe uusyomeka Zefaniya, Jehova wakaambilizya kuti imbono zyabo “ziyoosaalwa, amaanda aabo ayoonyonyoonwa.” Teebakali kuzoounywa waini ngobakali kukumba, alimwi “ingolida yabo ansiliva yabo zyoonse [zyakali kuzoo]kacilwa kubavuna mubuzuba bwabukali bwa-Jehova.”—Zefaniya 1:13, 18.
Masi Ambi Abetekwa
13. Mmulumbe nzi walubeta Zefaniya ngwaakaambilizya kuli Moabu, Amoni, akuli Asuri?
13 Kwiinda mumusinsimi wakwe Zefaniya, alimwi Jehova wakaamba bukali bwakwe kumasi aayo aakapenzyede bantu bakwe. Wakaambilizya ategwa: “Ndimvwide kusampaula kwa-Moabu amatusi aabana ba-Amoni ngebatukizya bantu bangu, ambubakomezya nyika yabo. Nkaambo kako, mbundi muumi, mbwaamba Jehova wamakamu Leza wa Israyeli, ncobeni Moabu uyooba mbuli Sodoma, abana ba-Amoni bayooba mbuli Gomora, itongo limenedwe mituntulwa, iizwide malindi aamunyo, iitakedwe lyoonse. . . . Akwalo kunyika uyootambika ijanza lyakwe akunyonyoona Asuri, nkabela uyoocita kuti Nineve ube itongo, akuyuma mbuli inkanda.”—Zefaniya 2:8, 9, 13.
14. Nzitondezyo nzi ziliwo izyakuti bamasi ‘bakalisumpula’ kubana Israyeli a Leza wabo, Jehova?
14 Bana Moabu abana Amoni bakali basinkondonyina a Israyeli kuzwa kaindi. (Amweezyanye a Babetesi 3:12-14.) Ibbwe lina Moabu ilijanika mu Miziyamu ya Louvre ku Paris, lijisi malembe aalaa majwi akulisumpula ngaakaamba Mwami Mesha wa Moabu. Ulalidunda mbuli mbwaakakoma minzi ya Israyeli iili mbwiibede kwiinda mulugwasyo lwaleza wakwe Kemoshi. (2 Bami 1:1) Jeremiya, walo wakali kupona kuciindi comwe a Zefaniya, wakaamba bana Amoni kuti bakakoma mabazu aa Israyeli aaku Gadi muzina lyaleza wabo Milikamu. (Jeremiya 49:1) Akwalo kuzwa ku Asuri, Mwami Salimaneseli V wakali wazunda Samariya ambweni mwaanda wamyaka kacitanasika ciindi ca Zefaniya. (2 Bami 17:1-6) Kwiinde buyo ciindi cisyoonto, Mwami Sanakeribu wakalwana Juda, wakazunda minzi minji iikwabilidwe, mane wakasika nkwakonga Jerusalemu buya. (Isaya 36:1, 2) Mwaambilizi wamwami wa Asuri ncobeni wakalisumpula kuli Jehova ciindi naakali kulailila kuti Jerusalemu itame kuti yazundwa.—Isaya 36:4-20.
15. Mbuti Jehova mbwaakali kuzoobasampula baleza bamasi aayo aakalisumpwide kubantu bakwe?
15 Intembauzyo 83 ilaamba masi aali mbwaabede, kubikkilizya Moabu, Amoni, alimwi a Asuri, alo aakalisumpula loko kuli Israyeli, kaalidunda akwaamba kuti: “Amuboole, tubalesye kuba cisi, izina lya-Israyeli litayeeyegwi limbi.” (Intembauzyo 83:4) Musinsimi Zefaniya wakaambilizya cabusicamba kuti zyoonse zisi ezi izilisumpula alimwi abaleza bazyo zyakali kuzoosampulwa a Jehova wamakamu. “Mbuboobu mbubati bweedezegwe milandu yabo, nkaambo basampaula akulisumpula kubantu ba-Jehova wamakamu. Jehova ulabayoosya, nkaambo wakotezya mizimu yoonse yaansi, kuti bantu bamukombe, boonse mpobabede, atusuwa toonse twabamasi.”—Zefaniya 2:10, 11.
“Amulindile Ndime”
16. (a) Mbaani mbukwakaletela kukondwa ikuboola kwabuzuba bwa Jehova, alimwi nkaambo nzi? (b) Mmulumbe nzi wakubusya-busya iwakatolwa kubasyeede aaba ibasyomeka?
16 Iciindi caŋonzi zyakumuuya, kudooneka, kukomba mituni, lweeno, alimwi akuyandisya lubono nizyakavwulide akati kabasololi alimwi abantu bama Juda a Jerusalemu, kulibonya kuti kwakali bama Juda basyoonto ibakabumvwa businsimi bwa Zefaniya. Yakabausisya imicito iiyoosya yabami, babetesi, abapaizi bama Juda. Kwaambilizya kwa Zefaniya cakali cuumbulizyo kuli baaba basyomeka. Kulimbabo, muciindi cakuti kuboola kwabuzuba bwa Jehova cibe cintu cakulibilika, cakali cakukondwa, nkaambo cakali kuzoolesya micito iisesemya boobu. Aaba basyeede basyomeka bakamvwa kwiita kwa Jehova kwakubusya-busya kwakuti: “Lino amulindile ndime, mbwaamba Jehova. Amulindile buzuba mbwenti buke, mbe kamboni. Nkaambo ncindakosola nceeci. Njoobunganya zisi akuyobolola mami oonse, kuti nkabatilile bukali bwangu akupya kwamoyo wangu, nkaambo mulilo wabbivwe lyangu uyootenta nyika yoonse”—Zefaniya 3:8.
17. Ndilili milumbe ya Zefaniya niyakatalika kuzuzikizigwa kumasi ayo, alimwi buti?
17 Aabo bakamvwa kucenjezya teebakajanika kabatalibambilide. Banji bakapona kusikila bakubona kuzuzikizigwa kwabusinsimi bwa Zefaniya. Mu 632 B.C.E., munzi wa Nineve wakasaalwa akunyonyoonwa abasikalumamba bakavwelene abana Babuloni, bana Mede, alimwi amakamu-makamu aazwa kunyika ambweni ibana Sikitiya. Sikwiiya zyaciindi Will Durant ulaluula ategwa: “Inkamu yabasikalumamba bana Babuloni yakali kusololelwa a Nabopolasa yakakamantana abana Mede ibakali kusololelwa a Kaikisaresi alimwi ankamu yabana Sikitiya ibazwa ku Kaukasa, eelyo bakaide kusola-sola buyo akuzwela-zwela buyo kukoma minzi iili kunyika. . . . Lweendo lomwe buyo lwakazimaanya Asuri, tiiciwo pe.” Ncencico nceena eci ncaakasinsimide Zefaniya.—Zefaniya 2:13-15.
18. (a) Mbuti lubeta lwa Leza mbulwakacitwa kuli Jerusalemu, alimwi nkaambo nzi? (b) Mbuti businsimi bwa Zefaniya bujatikizya Moabu a Amoni mbubwakazuzikizigwa?
18 Banji bama Juda ibakali kulindilila Jehova bakapona kusikila nkobakazoobona lubeta nkolucitwa kuli Juda a Jerusalemu. Ikwaamba Jerusalemu, Zefaniya wakasinsima ategwa: “Maawe kuliyooyo uusampaula, uusofweede, munzi uukataazya. Teewakaswiilila ijwi, teewakazuminina lucenjezyo, teewakasyoma Jehova, teewakaswenenena kuli-Leza wawo.” (Zefaniya 3:1, 2) Akaambo kakutasyomeka kwayo, Jerusalemu yakazingwa ziindi zyobile kubana Babuloni mane limwi yakomwa akunyonyoonwa mu 607 B.C.E. (2 Makani 36:5, 6, 11-21) Abalo bana Moabu abana Amoni, mbuli bwaamba mulembi wazyaciindi zyabama Juda, Josifasi, mumwaanda wamyaka wasanu kuzwa lyakawa Jerusalemu, bana Babuloni bakabalwana akubazunda. Muciindi bakazoozimaanina limwi, mbuli bwakasinsimwa.
19, 20. (a) Mbuti Jehova mbwaakapa bulumbu kulibaabo ibakali kumulindilila? (b) Nkaambo nzi zintu ezi ncozitujatikizya, alimwi kuyoolangwa-langwa nzi mucibalo citobela?
19 Kuzuzikizigwa kwatupango-pango otu alimwi atumwi-tumwi twabusinsimi bwa Zefaniya cakali cintu ciyumya lusyomo kuli bama Juda abatali bama Juda aabo ibakali kulindilila Jehova. Akati kabaabo ibakafwutuka kunyonyoonwa kwa Juda a Jerusalemu kwakali Jeremiya, Ebedi-meleki muna Ethiopia, alimwi abamuŋanda ya Jonadabu, iwaluzubo lwa Rekabu. (Jeremiya 35:18, 19; 39:11, 12, df16-18) Bama Juda basyomeka bakagwisidwe mucisi alimwi abana babo, balo ibakazumanana kulindilila Jehova, bakaba akati kabasyeede aabo ibakaangululwa kuzwa ku Babuloni mu 537 B.C.E. akupiluka ku Juda kuyoobambulula bukombi busalala.—Ezara 2:1; Zefaniya 3:14, 15, 20.
20 Ino zyoonse ezi zicijatikizya buti ciindi cesu? Munzila zinji bukkale bwakali kujanika kuciindi ca Zefaniya buleendelana azintu zisesemya izili mukucitika sunu mu Kristendomu. Kunze lyaboobo mizeezo yabama Juda bamazubaayo yiindene-indene ilikozyenye amizeezyo iijanika sunu, zimwi ziindi naaba akati kabantu ba Jehova. Ootu ntotwaambo tutikalangwe mucibalo citobela.
Bupanduluzi buyungizidwe
a Kulangika kuti ijwi lyakuti “bana bamwami” lyaamba boonse baaluminyina mumukwasyi wabwami, nkaambo bana bakwe mwini Josiya bakacili basyoonto kapati kuciindeeco.
Ikwiindulula
◻ Nciimo nzi cabukombi cakali mu Juda kuciindi ca Zefaniya?
◻ Ino basololi babulelo bakali muciimo nzi, alimwi bantu banji bakalaa mizeezo nzi?
◻ Mbuti masi mbwaakalisumpula kubantu ba Jehova?
◻ Nkucenjezya nzi Zefaniya nkwaakapa kuli Juda amasi ambi?
◻ Mbuti aabo ibakali kulindilila Jehova mbubakapegwa bulumbu?
[Cifwanikiso icili apeeji 9]
Ibbwe lina Moabu lilakasinizya kaambo kakuti Mwami Mesha waku Moabu wakaamba majwi aakusampaula bana Israyeli
[Kulumba]
Ibbwe lina Moabu: Musée du Louvre, Paris
Cifwanikiso icili apeeji 10]
Ikuzuminizya businsimi bwa Zefaniya, ibbwe eeli lilembedwe mu cuneiform ilya Babylonian Chronicle lilaluula kusaalwa kwa Nineve amakamu aabasikalumamba aakajatizyanya
[Kulumba]
Ibbwe lya cuneiform: Twakazumizigwa aba British Museum