Isahluko Sethoba

Ngubani Oza Kulawula Ihlabathi?

1-3. Chaza iphupha nemibono eyabonwa nguDaniyeli ngonyaka wokuqala wolawulo lukaBheleshatsare.

NGOKU esi siprofeto sithimb’ ingqondo sikaDaniyeli sisibuyisela kunyaka wokuqala kaBheleshatsare uKumkani waseBhabhiloni. Sele lilide ixesha uDaniyeli ethinjiwe eBhabhiloni, kodwa ingqibelelo yakhe kuYehova ayizange igungqiswe mntu. Ekuma-70 eminyaka ubudala, ngoku lo mprofeti uthembekileyo ubona “iphupha nemibono yentloko yakhe esemandlalweni wakhe.” Yaye hayi indlela emoyikisa ngayo loo mibono!—Daniyeli 7:1, 15.

² UDaniyeli uyadanduluka: “Ndabona . . . imimoya yomine yamazulu izamazamisa ulwandle olukhulu. Kwaza kwavela amarhamncwa amakhulu amane ephuma elwandle, ngalinye lahlukile kwamanye.” Anjani wona amarhamncwa! Elokuqala liyingonyama enamaphiko, elesibini linjengebhere. Emva koko kulandela ihlosi elinamaphiko amane neentloko ezine! Eli rhamncwa lesine lomelele ngendlela engaqhelekanga linamazinyo entsimbi amakhulu neempondo ezilishumi. Phakathi kweempondo zalo ezilishumi kuvela uphondo “oluncinane” ‘olunamehlo anjengamehlo omntu, nomlomo othetha izinto ezinkulu.’—Daniyeli 7:2-8.

³ Emva koko uDaniyeli ubona izulu. UNyangelemihla uhleli kwitrone ezukileyo njengoMgwebi kwiNkundla yasezulwini. ‘Kukho amawaka aliwaka aqhubeka elungiselela phambi kwakhe, neshumi lamawaka eliphindwe ngeshumi lamawaka elalimi kanye phambi kwakhe.’ Ewagweba qatha la marhamncwa, uwahlutha ulawulo aze atshabalalise irhamncwa lesine. Ulawulo oluhlala luhleli ‘kwizizwana, amaqela eentlanga neelwimi’ luthiwa jize ‘kuthile onjengonyana womntu.’—Daniyeli 7:9-14.

4. (a) UDaniyeli wabhenela kubani ukuze afumane inkcazelo enokuthenjwa? (b) Kutheni kubalulekile kuthi oko kwabonwa kwaza kweviwa nguDaniyeli ngobo busuku?

⁴ UDaniyeli uthi: “Mna ke, Daniyeli, umoya wam wabandezeleka ngaphakathi ngenxa yoko, nemibono leyo yentloko yam yandothusa.” Ngoko ucela ingelosi ukuba imnike “inkcazelo enokuthenjwa ngako konke oku.” Eneneni ke ingelosi yamazisa “intsingiselo yoku.” (Daniyeli 7:15-28) Okwabonwa nokweviwa nguDaniyeli ngobo busuku kubaluleke gqitha kuthi, kuba kwakuchaza iziganeko zehlabathi ezaziza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo ukuza kuthi ga kumaxesha ethu, xa “uthile onjengonyana womntu” enikwe ulawulo kuzo zonke “izizwana, amaqela eentlanga neelwimi.” Ngoncedo lweLizwi nomoya kaThixo, nathi sinokuyiqonda intsingiselo yale mibono iqulethe isiprofeto.a

AMARHAMNCWA AMANE APHUMA ELWANDLE

5. Lwalufuzisela ntoni ulwandle olunomoya obhudlayo?

⁵ UDaniyeli wathi: “Kwavela amarhamncwa amakhulu amane ephuma elwandle.” (Daniyeli 7:3) Lwalufuzisela ntoni olu lwandle lungazolanga? Kwiminyaka ethile kamva, umpostile uYohane wabona irhamncwa lasendle elineentloko ezisixhenxe liphuma “elwandle.” Olo lwandle lwalumela “amaqela abantu nezihlwele neentlanga neelwimi”—inkumbula yabantu abangamazele nto uThixo. Ngoko, ulwandle lulufuzisela kakuhle uluntu olunxaxhileyo kuThixo.—ISityhilelo 13:1, 2; 17:15; Isaya 57:20.

6. Afuzisela ntoni amarhamncwa amane?

⁶ Ingelosi kaThixo yathi: “La marhamncwa makhulu, ngookumkani abane abaya kuvela emhlabeni.” (Daniyeli 7:17) Kuyacaca ukuba ingelosi yafanisa amarhamncwa amane awabonwa nguDaniyeli ‘njengookumkani abane.’ Ngaloo ndlela la marhamncwa afuzisela amagunya ehlabathi. Kodwa ke ngawaphi loo magunya?

7. (a) Bathini abanye abahlalutyi beBhayibhile ngombono wephupha likaDaniyeli lamarhamncwa amane nephupha likaKumkani uNebhukadenetsare lomfanekiso omkhulu? (b) Yintoni efuziselwa yinxalenye nganye yamalungu esinyithi omfanekiso?

⁷ Abahlalutyi beBhayibhile badla ngokunxibelelanisa umbono wephupha likaDaniyeli lamarhamncwa amane nephupha likaNebhukadenetsare lomfanekiso omkhulu. Ngokomzekelo, iThe Expositor’s Bible Commentary ithi: “Isahluko 7 [sikaDaniyeli] sihambisana nesahluko 2.” IThe Wycliffe Bible Commentary ithi: “Abantu abaninzi bayavuma ukuba ukulandelelana kwamagunya eeNtlanga amane . . . okulapha [kwisahluko 7 sikaDaniyeli] kuyafana noko kuchazwe [kuDaniyeli] isahluko 2.” Amagunya ehlabathi amane afuziselwa zizinyithi ezine zephupha likaNebhukadenetsare yayibuBukhosi beBhabhiloni (intloko yegolide), amaMedi namaPersi (isifuba neengalo zesilivere), iGrisi (isisu namathanga obhedu) noBukhosi bamaRoma (imilenze yentsimbi).b (Daniyeli 2:32, 33) Makhe sibone indlela ezi zikumkani ezihambisana ngayo nala marhamncwa makhulu awabonwa nguDaniyeli.

LINENGCWANGU NJENGENGONYAMA, LINAMENDU OKOKHOZI

8. (a) UDaniyeli walichaza njani irhamncwa lokuqala? (b) Lalimela buphi ubukhosi irhamncwa lokuqala, yaye imikhwa yalo yayifana njani neyengonyama?

⁸ Anjani wona amarhamncwa awabonwa nguDaniyeli! Xa wayechaza elinye lawo, wathi: “Elokuqala lalinjengengonyama, yaye lalinamaphiko okhozi. Ndithe ndisabukele suka amaphiko alo ancothulwa, laphakanyiswa emhlabeni laza lamiswa ngeenyawo ezimbini njengomntu, lanikwa intliziyo yomntu.” (Daniyeli 7:4) Eli rhamncwa lalifuzisela ulawulo olukwalunye nolo lwalumelwa yintloko yegolide yomfanekiso omkhulu, iGunya Lehlabathi laseBhabhiloni (607-539 B.C.E.). “Njengengonyama” enoburhalarhume, iBhabhiloni ayizange ibe nalusini xa yayiqwenga iintlanga, kuquka nabantu bakaThixo. (Yeremiya 4:5-7; 50:17) Le “ngonyama” yayisenza amatshe ngokungathi inamaphiko okhozi xa ihlasela.—IZililo 4:19; Habhakuki 1:6-8.

9. Latshintsha njani irhamncwa elinjengengonyama, yaye loo nto yalichaphazela njani?

⁹ Ethubeni, amaphiko ale ngonyama yahlukileyo “ancothulwa.” Ngasekupheleni kolawulo lukaKumkani uBheleshatsare, iBhabhiloni yaphulukana namendu ayo emadabini nobungangamsha bayo obufana nobengonyama phakathi kweentlanga. Amendu ayo ayengawagqithi kwanawomntu lo wembala. Ngenxa yokuba ‘yayinentliziyo yomntu,’ yaba buthathaka. Ekubeni yayingasenayo ‘intliziyo yengonyama,’ iBhabhiloni yayingasakwazi ukwenza izinto njengokumkani “phakathi kwezilo zehlathi.” (Thelekisa eyesi-2 kaSamuweli 17:10; Mika 5:8.) Yabhuqwa kanobom lelinye irhamncwa elikhulu.

LIBAWA OKWEBHERE

10. Luluphi uludwe lwabalawuli olwalufuziselwa ‘yibhere’?

¹⁰ UDaniyeli wathi: “Ndabona elinye irhamncwa, elesibini, lona linjengebhere. Kwaye laphakanyiswa ngacala-nye, lineembambo ezintathu emlonyeni walo phakathi kwamazinyo alo; yaye kwathiwa kulo, ‘Suka, udle inyama eninzi.’” (Daniyeli 7:5) Ukumkani owayefuziselwa ‘yibhere’ ukwangulaa kumkani wayefanekiselwa sisifuba neengalo zesilivere zomfanekiso omkhulu—uludwe lwabalawuli bamaMedi namaPersi (539-331 B.C.E.) abasusela kuDariyo umMedi noKoreshi Omkhulu baza baya kuphela ngoDariyo III.

11. Kwakufuzisela ntoni ukuphakanyiswa ngacala-nye nokuba neembambo ezintathu emlonyeni kwale bhere?

¹¹ Le bhere yokomfuziselo ‘yaphakanyiswa ngacala-nye,’ mhlawumbi ukuze ilungele ukuhlasela nokoyisa iintlanga ize ngaloo ndlela ibe ligunya lehlabathi. Okanye ke oku kuphakanyiswa kwayo cala-nye kusenokuba kwakubonisa ukuba uludwe lwabalawuli abangamaPersi lwaluya kumongamela ekuphela kokumkani ongumMedi, uDariyo. Iimbambo ezintathu eziphakathi kwamazinyo ale bhere zisenokuba zazifuzisela iimbombo ezintathu eyathi yagqugqisa isinge kuzo. Le “bhere” ifuzisela amaMedi namaPersi yanyukela emntla yaza yayithi hlasi ngobhongwana iBhabhiloni ngowama-539 B.C.E. Emva koko yanyathelela phezulu ityhutyha elaseAsia Minor yaya kugaleleka naseThrace. Ekugqibeleni, le “bhere” yehlela emzantsi yaza yoyisa iYiputa. Ekubeni maxa wambi isithathu sifuzisela ubukhulu, iimbambo ezintathu zisenokuba zigxininisa ukunyolukel’ uloyiso kwale bhere yokomfuziselo.

12. Kwenzeka ntoni xa le bhere yokomfuziselo yathobela umyalelo othi: “Suka, udle inyama eninzi”?

¹² Le “bhere” yaziphathel’ imbengwana iintlanga isabela kumazwi athi: “Suka, udle inyama eninzi.” Ngokubimbiliza iBhabhiloni ngokuvisisana nokuthanda kukaThixo, amaMedi namaPersi aba kwisikhundla sokunikela inkonzo exabisekileyo kubantu bakaYehova. Ibe enjenjalo! (Bona umxholo othi “Ukumkani Ongenamkhethe,” kwiphepha 149.) NgoKoreshi Omkhulu, uDariyo I (uDariyo Omkhulu), nangoArtashashta I, amaMedi namaPersi abakhulula abathinjwa beBhabhiloni abangamaYuda aza abanceda ukuba baphinde bakhe itempile kaYehova yaye bahlaziye iindonga zeYerusalem. Ethubeni, amaMedi namaPersi alawula izithili ezingaphezu kwama-127, ibe umyeni kaKumkanikazi uEstere, uAhaswerosi (Xerxes I), waba ‘ngukumkani ukusuka eIndiya ukuya eTiyopiya.’ (Estere 1:1) Noko ke, kwakukho rhamncwa limbi elalisaqingqa.

LENZA AMATSHE OKWEHLOSI ELINAMAPHIKO!

13. (a) Lalifuzisela ntoni irhamncwa lesithathu? (b) Sazi ntoni ngamendu erhamncwa lesithathu kunye nommandla eliwulawulayo?

¹³ Irhamncwa lesithathu lalifana ‘nehlosi, kodwa linamaphiko amane esidalwa esiphaphazelayo emhlana. Kwaye eli rhamncwa lalineentloko ezine, laza lanikwa ulawulo.’ (Daniyeli 7:6) Njengesisu namathanga obhedu omfanekiso wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare, eli hlosi linamaphiko amane neentloko ezilishumi lalifuzisela uludwe lwabalawuli baseMakedoniya, okanye baseGrisi, abasusela kuAleksandire Omkhulu. UAleksandire walityhutyha elaseAsia Minor, wehlela eYiputa, waza waya kufika nakumda osentshona weIndiya egqadaza yaye esenza amatshe okwehlosi. (Thelekisa uHabhakuki 1:8.) Umhlaba awayekhonya kuwo wawumkhulu ‘kunowebhere,’ kuba wawuquka iMakedoniya, iGrisi noBukhosi bamaPersi.—Bona umxholo othi “UKumkani Oselula Woyisa Ihlabathi,” kwiphepha 153.

14. ‘Ihlosi’ lazifumana njani iintloko ezine?

¹⁴ Eli “hlosi” laba neentloko ezine emva kokufa kuka-Aleksandire ngowama-323 B.C.E. Ekugqibeleni iinjengele zakhe ezine zangena ezihlangwini zakhe zaza zaphatha imimandla eyahlukeneyo yomhlaba wakhe. USeleucus wabamb’ iintambo kwelaseMesopotamiya naseSiriya. UPtolemy waphatha iYiputa nePalestina. EAsia Minor naseThrace kwakukhonya uLysimachus, ngoxa uCassander wazifumanela iMakedoniya neGrisi. (Bona umxholo othi “Ubukumkani Obukhulu Buyahlulwa,” kwiphepha 162.) Kuthe kusenjalo kwathi gqi elinye elangena ngegqudu emdudweni.

IRHAMNCWA ELOYIKEKAYO ELAHLUKILEYO

15. (a) Chaza irhamncwa lesine. (b) Lalifuzisela ntoni irhamncwa lesine, yaye layiqwenga laza layityumza njani yonke into eyayixabe phambi kwalo?

¹⁵ UDaniyeli walichaza irhamncwa lesine ‘njengeloyikekayo nelinkwantyisayo nelomelele ngokungaqhelekanga.’ Wahlabela mgama esithi: “Kwaye lalinamazinyo entsimbi, amakhulu. Laliqwenga lityumza, lize okuseleyo likunyathele ngeenyawo zalo. Lalahlukile kuwo onke amanye amarhamncwa awayephambi kwalo, yaye lalineempondo ezilishumi.” (Daniyeli 7:7) Eli rhamncwa loyikekayo laqalisa liligunya lezobupolitika nelomkhosi laseRoma. Lithe chu layoyisa imimandla emine yoBukhosi baseGrisi, ibe kwathi kufika owama-30 B.C.E., iRoma yabe sele icel’ undikho njengegunya lehlabathi elilandelayo lesiprofeto seBhayibhile. Bududula yonk’ intw’ ephambi kwabo ngomkhosi, ekugqibeleni uBukhosi baseRoma bakhula baza bagubungela ummandla owawususela eBritani ukuxwesa ukuya kutsho kwinxalenye enkulu yeYurophu, ukujikela kummandla weMeditera, wadlulela ngaphaya kweBhabhiloni waya kutsho kwiNyoba yamaPersi.

16. Yiyiphi inkcazelo eyanikelwa yingelosi ngerhamncwa lesine?

¹⁶ Efuna ukuqiniseka ngeli rhamncwa ‘loyikeka ngokungaqhelekanga,’ uDaniyeli wabaz’ iindlebe njengoko ingelosi yayichaza: “Zona ke iimpondo [zalo] ezilishumi ngookumkani abalishumi abaya kuvela kobo bukumkani; yaye kuya kuvela omnye emva kwabo; yena uya kwahluka kwabo bokuqala, aze oyise ookumkani abathathu.” (Daniyeli 7:19, 20, 24) Zazingoobani ezi ‘mpondo zilishumi,’ okanye “ookumkani abalishumi”?

17. Zazifuzisela ntoni “iimpondo ezilishumi” zerhamncwa lesine?

¹⁷ Ithe iRoma yakuba lilizwe elityebileyo yaza yaya itshitsha ngenxa yoburheletyo babalawuli bayo, umkhosi wayo wetha amandla. Ethubeni, yabonwa nanguthathatha into yokuba umkhosi wamaRoma akusekho yawo. Ekugqibeleni obo bukhosi bunamandla baqhekeka baba zizikumkani eziliqela. Ekubeni ngokufuthi iBhayibhile isebenzisa ishumi njengenani elibonisa ukuphelela, “iimpondo ezilishumi” zerhamncwa lesine zamela zonke izikumkani ezaqhekeka kwiRoma.—Thelekisa iDuteronomi 4:13; Luka 15:8; 19:13, 16, 17.

18. IRoma yaqhubeka njani ikhonya kangangeenkulungwane eYurophu emva kokuba eshenxisiwe umlawuli wayo wokugqibela?

¹⁸ Noko ke, iGunya Lehlabathi lamaRoma alizange liphele ngokushenxiswa komlawuli walo wokugqibela owayelawula eRoma ngowama-476 C.E. IRoma ebilawulwa ngupopu iye yaqhubeka ikhonya kangangeenkulungwane ezininzi kwezobupolitika, yaye ngokukodwa kwezonqulo, eYurophu. Yenjenjalo isebenzisa inkqubo yolwabiwo-mihlaba, apho inkoliso yabemi baseYurophu yayiphathwa yinkosi ethile, yandule ke loo nkosi ibe ngaphantsi kokumkani. Yaye bonke ookumkani babesiwa ngedolo phantsi kukapopu. Ngaloo ndlela uBukhosi Obungcwele bamaRoma obabulawulwa yipopu yaseRoma bayilawula imicimbi yehlabathi ukutyhubela elo xesha lide lembali elibizwa ngokuba ngamaXesha Obumnyama.

19. Omnye umbhali-mbali wawuchaza njani umahluko owawuphakathi kweRoma namanye amagunya awayengaphambi kwayo?

¹⁹ Ngubani onokuyiphikisa into yokuba irhamncwa lesine “lalahlukile kuwo onke amanye” (Daniyeli 7:7, 19, 23)? Ehlomla ngalo mahluko, umbhali-mbali uH. G. Wells wabhala: “Eli gunya litsha lamaRoma . . . lalahluke ngeendlela ezininzi kuwo nawaphi na amagunya amakhulu abekho ukuza kuthi ga kweli xesha lempucuko. . . . Belilawula phantse onke amaGrike akhoyo ehlabathini, yaye kubantu balo babembalwa abemi basemntla Afrika nabasemzantsi-ntshona Asia kunabo nabuphi na obunye ubukhosi obungaphambili . . . Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku buyinto entsha embalini . . . UBukhosi bamaRoma bakhula, bukhula ngendlela engaqhelekanga; engaqondanga amaRoma azifumana sele elawula umhlaba omkhulu gqitha.” Phofu ke, kwakungekabi phi, laliseza kukhula eli rhamncwa lesine.

KUKHULA UPHONDO OLUNCINANE

20. Yathini ingelosi ngokukhula kophondo oluncinane kwintloko yerhamncwa lesine?

²⁰ UDaniyeli wathi: “Ndaziqwalasela iimpondo zalo, ndabona kuvela olunye uphondo, oluncinane, phakathi kwazo, kwaza kwancothulwa ezintathu kwiimpondo zokuqala phambi kwalo.” (Daniyeli 7:8) Ithetha ngolu phondo lukhulayo, ingelosi yaxelela uDaniyeli oku: “Kuya kuvela omnye emva kwabo [ookumkani abalishumi]; yena uya kwahluka kwabo bokuqala, aze oyise ookumkani abathathu.” (Daniyeli 7:24) Ngubani lo kumkani, evele nini, yaye ingoobani bona ookumkani abathathu awabathobayo?

21. IBritani yaba lulo njani uphondo oluncinane lokomfuziselo lwerhamncwa lesine?

²¹ Khawuqwalasele ezi ziganeko zilandelayo. Ngowama-55 B.C.E., iNjengele engumRoma uJulius Caesar yahlasela iBritani kodwa ayakwazi ukuyima ngokusisigxina. Ngowama-43 C.E., uMlawuli uClaudius wawoyisa ngokupheleleyo umzantsi weBritani. Kwathi ke, ngowe-122 C.E., uMlawuli uHadrian waqalisa ukwakha udonga olwalusuka kuMlambo iTyne luye kutsho kwiSolway Firth, olwaluphawula umda ongasemntla woBukhosi bamaRoma. Ngasebutsheni benkulungwane yesihlanu, umkhosi wamaRoma wasishiya eso siqithi. Omnye umbhali-mbali uchaza enjenje: “Ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinesithandathu, iNgilani yayiligunyana elingacacanga. Yayikhala ngaphantsi kwiNetherlands ngobuncwane. Abemi bayo babengasondeli nokusondela kwabaseFransi ngenani. Umkhosi wayo (kuquka nowaselwandle) wawungaphantsi kwanakumkhosi waseSpeyin.” Kuyabonakala ukuba ngelo xesha iBritani yayibubukumkani obungazelwe nto, iluphondo oluncinane lokomfuziselo lwerhamncwa lesine. Kodwa ke izinto zaziza kutshintsha.

22. (a) Ziziphi ezinye iimpondo ezintathu zerhamncwa lesine ezagaganyelwa luphondo “oluncinane”? (b) IBritani yaba kwisiphi isikhundla emva koko?

²² Ngowe-1588, uPhilip II waseSpeyin waqula ngeeNqanawa Zomkhosi zaseSpeyin eza kulwa neBritani. Olo dederhu lweenqanawa ezili-130, ezazithwele amadoda angaphezu kwama-24 000, lwenjenjeya ukutyhubela iEnglish Channel luyokuzithwaxisa kabuhlungu ngemikhosi yaselwandle yaseBritani yabe nemimoya nezaqhwithi zeAtlantiki zikhwela zizehlela kulo. Omnye umbhali-mbali wathi esi siganeko “saba kukudluliselwa kwegunya lomkhosi okhonya elwandle lisuka kwiSpeyin laya kwiNgilani.” Ngenkulungwane ye-17, amaDatshi ayenezona nqanawa zokurhweba zininzi ehlabathini. Noko ke, ekubeni lalisanda inani lamathanga eBritani aphesheya kweelwandle, yabugqwesa obo bukumkani. Ebudeni benkulungwane ye-18, amaNgesi namaFrentshi ayebambene ngezihlwitha kuMntla Merika naseIndiya, nto leyo eyakhokelela kwiSivumelwano SaseParis ngowe-1763. Umbhali uWilliam B. Willcox uthi esi sivumelwano “sasenza sacaca isikhundla esitsha seBritani njengelona gunya linamandla laseYurophu kumazwe angaphandle kweYurophu.” IBritani yaqwela ukutshatshela ngokuswantsulisa uNapoléon waseFransi ngowe-1815 C.E. Ngaloo ndlela “ookumkani abathathu” ‘aboyiswa’ yiBritani yayisiSpeyin, iNetherlands neFransi. (Daniyeli 7:24) Ngenxa yoko, iBritani yakhula yaba lelona gunya likhulu elilawula amathanga nelalinkqenkqeza phambili ngoqoqosho. Ewe, uphondo “oluncinane” lwakhula lwaba ligunya lehlabathi!

23. Uphondo oluncinane lokomfuziselo ‘lwawuqwenga njani wonke umhlaba’?

²³ Ingelosi yaxelela uDaniyeli ukuba irhamncwa lesine, okanye ubukumkani besine, laliya “kuwuqwenga wonke umhlaba.” (Daniyeli 7:23) Lenjenjalo kanye iphondo laseRoma elalifudula lisaziwa njengeBritani. Ekugqibeleni laba buBukhosi bamaNgesi laza ‘lawuqwenga wonke umhlaba.’ Ngaxa lithile, obu bukhosi babulawula isahlulo sesine somhlaba nesahlulo sesine sabemi bawo.

24. Wathini omnye umbhali-mbali ngokwahluka koBukhosi bamaNgesi?

²⁴ Nanjengokuba uBukhosi bamaRoma bahlukayo kumagunya ehlabathi awayengaphambi kwabo, nokumkani ofuziselwa luphondo “oluncinane” wayeza “kwahluka kwabo bokuqala.” (Daniyeli 7:24) Ethetha ngoBukhosi bamaNgesi, umbhali-mbali uH. G. Wells wathi: “Ayizange ibekho into enjengale ngaphambili. Kwisikhundla sokuqala nesisesona siphezulu salo rhulumente kwakuchophe ‘iriphabliki elawulwa ngukumkani’ yeZikumkani ZeBritani Emanyeneyo . . . Alikho isebe okanye ingqondo yomntu omnye eyayinokubuqonda uBukhosi bamaNgesi buphela. Babuyingxubevange nobuceducedu bento eyahluke gqitha kuyo nayiphi na into eyakha yabizwa ngokuba bubukhosi ngaphambili.”

25. (a) Kwizinto ezenzeke kulo mvanje, uphondo oluncinane lumela ntoni? (b) Uphondo “oluncinane” lube ‘namehlo anjengamehlo omntu’ kunye ‘nomlomo othetha izinto ezinkulu’ ngayiphi ingqiqo?

²⁵ Olu phondo “luncinane” lwalungaphelelanga kuBukhosi bamaNgesi. Ngowe-1783, iBritani yanika amathanga ayo ali-13 aseMerika uzimele-geqe. Ekugqibeleni iUnited States of America yaba lihlakani leBritani, yaza emva kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II yakhula yaba lelona lizwe likhonyayo emhlabeni. Nanamhl’ oku isalala ngengub’ enye neBritani. Igunya lehlabathi elintlu-mbini lamaNgesi namaMerika eliye ladalwa bobo buhlobo ‘linophondo olunamehlo.’ Ngokwenene, eli gunya lehlabathi lineliso elibukhali, linobuqili! ‘Lithetha izinto ezinkulu,’ liyithe nqo ngempumlo inkoliso yamazwe ehlabathi yaye lizenza umlomo wawo, okanye ‘umprofeti wobuxoki.’—Daniyeli 7:8, 11, 20; ISityhilelo 16:13; 19:20.

UPHONDO OLUNCINANE LUCHASA UTHIXO NABANGCWELE BAKHE

26. Yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili yingelosi ngoko kuthethwa nokwenziwa luphondo lokomfuziselo kuYehova nakubakhonzi bakhe?

²⁶ UDaniyeli wahlabela mgama echaza umbono wakhe, esithi: “Ndalubona olo phondo lusilwa imfazwe nabangcwele, lwaluboyisa.” (Daniyeli 7:21) Ithetha ngolu “phondo,” okanye ukumkani, ingelosi kaThixo yaxela kwangaphambili isithi: “Uya kuthetha amazwi anxamnye nOyena Uphakamileyo, ababandezele abangcwele baLowo uPhakamileyo. Yaye uya kuzimisela ukutshintsha amaxesha nomthetho, bona ke baya kunikelwa kuye okwexesha, namaxesha nesiqingatha sexesha.” (Daniyeli 7:25) Yazaliseka njani yaye nini le nxalenye yesiprofeto?

27. (a) Ngoobani “abo bangcwele” abatshutshiswa luphondo “oluncinane”? (b) Uphondo lokomfuziselo lwaluzimisele “ukutshintsha amaxesha nomthetho” ngayiphi indlela?

²⁷ “Abangcwele” abatshutshiswa luphondo “oluncinane”—iGunya Lehlabathi LamaNgesi NamaMerika—ngabalandeli abathanjisiweyo bakaYesu abasemhlabeni. (Roma 1:7; 1 Petros 2:9) Kangangeminyaka ethile ngaphambi kweMfazwe Yehlabathi I, intsalela yaba bathanjiswa yalumkisa uwonke wonke isithi ngowe-1914 ayeya kuphela “amaxesha amisiweyo eentlanga.” (Luka 21:24) Xa kwaqhambuk’ imfazwe ngaloo nyaka, kwacaca ukuba uphondo “oluncinane” aluzange lusise so esi silumkiso, kuba lwaqhubeka lubabandezela “abangcwele” abathanjisiweyo. IGunya Lehlabathi LamaNgesi NamaMerika lada laxaba phambi kwemigudu yabo yokwenza oko kufunwa (okanye “umthetho”) kaYehova wokuba amangqina akhe ashumayele iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani kwihlabathi liphela. (Mateyu 24:14) Ngaloo ndlela uphondo “oluncinane” lwazama “ukutshintsha amaxesha nomthetho.”

28. Lide kangakanani ‘ixesha, namaxesha nesiqingatha sexesha’?

²⁸ Ingelosi kaYehova yabhekisela kwixesha elingokwesiprofeto elichazwe ngokuthi ‘lixesha, namaxesha nesiqingatha sexesha.’ Lingakanani elo xesha? Bonke abaphengululi beBhayibhile bayavumelana ukuba eli binzana lithetha amaxesha amathathu anesiqingatha—ngamany’ amazwi lixesha, amaxesha amabini, nesiqingatha sexesha. Ekubeni “amaxesha asixhenxe” empambano kaNebhukadenetsare aba yiminyaka esixhenxe, amaxesha amathathu anesiqingatha yiminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha.c (Daniyeli 4:16, 25) IAn American Translation ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Baya kunikelwa kuye kangangonyaka, iminyaka emibini, nesiqingatha sonyaka.” Inguqulelo kaJames Moffatt ithi: “Kangangeminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha sonyaka.” Kwaeli xesha linye liyakhankanywa kwiSityhilelo 11:2-7, esibonisa ukuba amangqina kaThixo ayeya kushumayela ambethe irhonya kangangeenyanga ezingama-42, okanye iintsuku ezili-1 260, emva koko abulawe. Laqalisa laza laphela nini elo xesha?

29. Yaqalisa nini yaye njani iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha?

²⁹ KumaKristu athanjisiweyo, iMfazwe Yehlabathi I yaba lixesha lovavanyo. Ngasekupheleni kowe-1914, ayelindele ukutshutshiswa. Enyanisweni, kwaumxholo wonyaka owasetyenziswa ngowe-1915 wawungumbuzo kaYesu awawubhekisa kubafundi bakhe othi, “Ningasela na endebeni yam?” Wawuthatyathwe kuMateyu 20:22, ngokweKing James Version. Kungoko ukususela ngoDisemba we-1914, elo qaqobana lamangqina lashumayela lambethe “irhonya.”

30. AmaKristu athanjisiweyo abandezelwa njani liGunya Lehlabathi lamaNgesi namaMerika ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi I?

³⁰ Yathi yakuqinisa imfazwe, amaKristu athanjisiweyo ajamelana nenkcaso engakumbi. Amanye avalelwa entolongweni. Amanye, anjengoFrank Platt waseNgilani noRobert Clegg waseKhanada, athuthunjiswa ngabasemagunyeni abakhohlakeleyo. NgoFebruwari 12, 1918, iBritish Dominion of Canada yathintela ukuba ungahanjiswa umqulu wesixhenxe weStudies in the Scriptures owawusandul’ ukupapashwa nowawunomxholo othi The Finished Mystery, kunye namaphecana awayenomxholo othi The Bible Students Monthly. Kwinyanga elandela leyo, iSebe Lezobulungisa laseUnited States lavakalisa ukuba ukusasazwa kwaloo mqulu wesixhenxe kwakungekho mthethweni. Waba yintoni umphumo? Kaloku, kwakugqogqw’ amakhaya, kuhluthwa uncwadi yaye kubanjwa nabanquli bakaYehova!

31. Laphela nini yaye njani ‘ixesha, amaxesha nesiqingatha sexesha’?

³¹ Ukubandezelwa kwabathanjiswa bakaThixo kwafikelela uvuthondaba ngoJuni 21, 1918, xa umongameli, uJ. F. Rutherford, namalungu aphambili eWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society abanjwa ngezityholo zobuxoki aza athiwa nka ngezigwebo zeminyaka emininzi esentolongweni. Luzimisele ‘ukutshintsha amaxesha nomthetho,’ olu phondo “luncinane” lwada lwawubhangisa ngokupheleleyo umsebenzi olungelelanisiweyo wokushumayela. (ISityhilelo 11:7) Ngoko ‘ixesha, namaxesha nesiqingatha sexesha’ awayexelwe kwangaphambili aphela ngoJuni 1918.

32. Kutheni unokuthi “abo bangcwele” abazange babhangiswe luphondo “oluncinane”?

³² Kodwa ke “abangcwele” abazange babhange bakubandezelwa luphondo “oluncinane.” Njengoko kuprofetwe kwincwadi yeSityhilelo, emva kokuba ekhe abotshw’ izandla nemilenze okwexeshana, amaKristu athanjisiweyo athi thimbilili aza aqalisa apho ebeyeke khona. (ISityhilelo 11:11-13) NgoMatshi 26, 1919, umongameli weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society namaqabane akhe bakhululwa entolongweni, ibe kamva bahlanjwa kwizityholo zobuxoki ababetyatyekwa zona. Kamsinya emva koko, intsalela yabathanjiswa yaqalisa ukulungiselela umsebenzi ongakumbi. Kodwa khawume ke, kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni kolu phondo “luncinane”?

UNYANGELEMIHLA UCHOPHELA ITYALA

33. (a) Ngubani uNyangelemihla? (b) Ziziphi ‘iincwadi ezavulwayo’ kwiNkundla yasezulwini?

³³ Emva kokuchaza amarhamncwa amane, uDaniyeli ususa amehlo akhe kwirhamncwa lesine awase koko kwenzeka ezulwini. Ubona uNyangelemihla ehleli kwitrone yakhe enobuqaqawuli njengoMgwebi. Akakho omnye uNyangelemihla ngaphandle kukaYehova uThixo. (INdumiso 90:2) Njengoko iNkundla yasezulwini ihlala, uDaniyeli ubona ‘kuvulwa iincwadi.’ (Daniyeli 7:9, 10) Ekubeni uYehova engenasiqalo, uyazi yonke imbali yoluntu ngokungathi ibhalwe encwadini. Ebewabukele omane la marhamncwa okomfuziselo yaye unokuwagwebela into ayibone ngawakhe amehlo.

34, 35. Kuza kwenzeka ntoni kuphondo “oluncinane” nakwamanye amagunya anjengamarhamncwa?

³⁴ UDaniyeli uhlabela mgama: “Kwavakala isandi samazwi amakhulu awayethethwa luphondo; ndaza ndaqhubeka ndibukele lada labulawa irhamncwa nomzimba walo watshiswa ngomlilo. Ke wona amanye amarhamncwa, ahluthwa amagunya awo okulawula, aza andiselwa ubomi okwethutyana.” (Daniyeli 7:11, 12) Ingelosi ixelela uDaniyeli oku: “INkundla ngokwayo iya kuhlala, imhluthe ulwawulo lwakhe, abhujiswe, atshatyalaliswe ngokupheleleyo.”—Daniyeli 7:26.

³⁵ Umyalelo woMgwebi Omkhulu, uYehova uThixo, uthi olu phondo oluye lwanyelisa uThixo lwaza lwabandezela “abo bangcwele” bakhe luya kuhlelwa yinto eyehlela uBukhosi bamaRoma, obabutshutshisa amaKristu okuqala. Ulawulo lwalo luza kuphela. Kuza kuba njalo ke nakwabanye “ookumkani” abanjengeempondo abavela kuBukhosi bamaRoma. Noko ke, kuthekani ngolawulo olususela kumagunya angaphambili afaniswa namarhamncwa? Njengoko kwaxelwa kwangaphambili, ubomi bawo bandiswa “okwexesha nethuba elithile.” Imihlaba yawo isamiwe unanamhla. Ngokomzekelo, i-Iraq imi apho kwakumi khona iBhabhiloni yamandulo. IPersi (i-Iran) neGrisi zisekho unanamhla. Amasalela ala magunya ehlabathi ayinxalenye yeZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Nazo ezi zikumkani aziyi kusinda xa kutshatyalaliswa igunya lehlabathi lokugqibela. Bonke oorhulumente babantu baza kushenxiswa “kwimfazwe yemini enkulu kaThixo uSomandla.” (ISityhilelo 16:14, 16) Kodwa ke, ngubani oya kulawula ihlabathi?

LUSONDELE ULAWULO OLUYA KUHLALA LUHLELI!

36, 37. (a) Libhekisela kubani ibinzana elithi “uthile onjengonyana womntu,” ibe ubonakala nini yaye ngayiphi injongo kwiNkundla yasezulwini? (b) Yintoni eyamiselwa ngowe-1914 C.E.?

³⁶ UDaniyeli wadanduluka esithi: “Ndaqhubeka ndibona emibonweni yasebusuku, nanko kusiza ngamafu amazulu uthile onjengonyana womntu; waza wafikelela kuNyangelemihla, bamsondeza ke kanye phambi Kwakhe.” (Daniyeli 7:13) Xa wayesemhlabeni, uYesu Kristu wazibiza ngokuthi “uNyana womntu,” ebonisa ukuba wayesisizalwana soluntu. (Mateyu 16:13; 25:31) Ebhekisa kwiSanhedrin, okanye inkundla ephakamileyo yamaYuda, uYesu wathi: “Niya kumbona uNyana womntu ehleli ngakwisandla sasekunene samandla, esiza ngamafu ezulu.” (Mateyu 26:64) Ngoko kumbono kaDaniyeli, lowo uzayo, ongabonwayo ngamehlo enyama, nofikelela kuYehova uThixo nguYesu Kristu ovusiweyo waza wazukiswa. Kwenzeka nini oku?

³⁷ UThixo wenze umnqophiso woBukumkani noYesu Kristu, kanye njengokuba wawenzayo noKumkani uDavide. (2 Samuweli 7:11-16; Luka 22:28-30) Xa “amaxesha amiselweyo eentlanga” aphelayo ngowe-1914 C.E., uYesu Kristu, nanjengendlalifa yobukumkani bukaDavide, ngokufanelekileyo wakwazi ukulufumana ulawulo loBukumkani. Ingxelo yesiprofeto kaDaniyeli ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Wanikwa ulawulo nesidima nobukumkani, ukuze zonke izizwana neentlanga neelwimi zimkhonze. Ulawulo lwakhe lulawulo oluhlala ngokungenammiselo olungayi kudlula, nobukumkani bakhe bobungayi konakaliswa.” (Daniyeli 7:14) Baba buyamiselwa ke ngolo hlobo uBukumkani obungoMesiya ezulwini ngowe-1914. Kodwa ke, bakho nabanye abaxhamlayo kolu lawulo.

38, 39. Ngoobani abaza kulawula ihlabathi ngonaphakade?

³⁸ Ingelosi yathi: “Abangcwele baLowo uPhakamileyo baya kubuthabatha ubukumkani.” (Daniyeli 7:18, 22, 27) UYesu uKristu ungoyena mkhulu kwaba bangcwele. (IZenzo 3:14; 4:27, 30) Abanye “abangcwele” abanesabelo kolu lawulo ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo athembekileyo ali-144 000, aziindlalifa zoBukumkani kunye noKristu. (Roma 1:7; 8:17; 2 Tesalonika 1:5; 1 Petros 2:9) Avuswa ekufeni ezizidalwa zomoya ezingafiyo ukuze alawule noKristu kwiNtaba yeZiyon esezulwini. (ISityhilelo 2:10; 14:1; 20:6) Ngenxa yoko, uKristu Yesu namaKristu athanjisiweyo avusiweyo baya kulawula ihlabathi loluntu.

³⁹ Ithetha ngolawulo loNyana womntu nabanye “abangcwele” abavusiweyo, ingelosi kaThixo yathi: “Buya kwandula ke ubukumkani nolawulo nobukhulu bezikumkani phantsi kwamazulu onke bunikwe abangabangcwele baLowo uPhakamileyo. Ubukumkani babo bubukumkani obuhlala ngokungenammiselo, yaye bonke abalawuli baya kubakhonza baze babathobele.” (Daniyeli 7:27) Ezinjani iintsikelelo eziya kunanditshwa ngabantu abathobelayo phantsi kobo Bukumkani!

40. Sinokungenelwa njani ngokunikela ingqalelo kwiphupha nakwimibono kaDaniyeli?

⁴⁰ UDaniyeli wayengazazi zonke iindlela ezizukileyo eyayiya kuzaliseka ngazo loo mibono wayeyiboniswa nguThixo. Wathi: “Iphela apho ke le nkcazelo. Mna ke, Daniyeli, iingcamango zam zathi zandothusa kakhulu, kangangokuba nebala eli lolusu lwam laguquka; kodwa yona le nkcazelo ndayigcina entliziyweni yam.” (Daniyeli 7:28) Noko ke, thina siphila kwixesha apho sinokuyiqonda inzaliseko yoko kwabonwa nguDaniyeli. Ukunikela ingqalelo kwesi siprofeto kuya kulomeleza ukholo lwethu kuze kusenze siqiniseke nangakumbi ngokuba uKumkani kaYehova onguMesiya uza kulilawula ihlabathi.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

UZUZE NTONI?

• Yintoni efuziselwa lirhamncwa ngalinye ‘kumarhamncwa amakhulu amane aphuma elwandle’?

Yintoni emelwa luphondo “oluncinane”?

• “Abo bangcwele” babandezelwa njani luphondo oluncinane lokomfuziselo ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi I?

• Kuza kwenzeka ntoni kuphondo oluncinane lokomfuziselo nakwamanye amagunya afaniswa namarhamncwa?

• Uzuze ntoni ngokunikela ingqalelo kwiphupha nakwimibono kaDaniyeli ‘yamarhamncwa amakhulu amane’?

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 149-152]

UKUMKANI ONGENAMKHETHE

OMNYE umbhali ongumGrike wenkulungwane yesihlanu ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo wamchaza njengokumkani owayengenamkhethe nowayegqibelele. Ukanti naseBhayibhileni ubizwa ngokuba ‘ngothanjisiweyo’ kaThixo ‘nentaka edla inyama’ evela “empumalanga.” (Isaya 45:1; 46:11) Lo kumkani kuthethwa ngaye nguKoreshi Omkhulu, wasePersi.

UKoreshi lo waqalisa iphulo lokufun’ udumo malunga nowama-560/559 B.C.E. xa wangena esihlalweni sikayise uCambyses I eAnshan, isixeko okanye isithili sePersi yamandulo. Ngelo xesha iAnshan yayilithanga likaKumkani uAstyages wamaMedi. Wathi akuluvukela ulawulo lwamaMedi, uKoreshi wawathi qwaka qwaka msinya kuba umkhosi ka-Astyages wawumi ngakuye. Emva koko amaMedi amthanda uKoreshi. Aza amaMedi namaPersi adibanisa imikhosi phantsi kolawulo lwakhe. Lwaba luyaqalisa ke ulawulo lwamaMedi namaPersi olwathi ethubeni lwalawula ukususela kuLwandle iAegean ukuya kutsho kuMlambo i-Indus.—Bona imaphu.

Eqamele ngemikhosi edityanisiweyo yamaMedi namaPersi, uKoreshi waqala ngokubamb’ iintambo kwindawo eyayinoqhushululu—icandelo elingasentshona leMedi apho uKumkani waseLydia uCroesus wayezicuntsulela kanobom kumhlaba owawuphantsi kwamaMedi. Efunze kumda ongasempuma woBukhosi baseLydia eAsia Minor, uKoreshi wamoyisa uCroesus waza walihlutha ikomkhulu lakhe, iSardis. Emva koko uKoreshi wazoyisa izixeko zaseIonia waza wayithimba yonke iAsia Minor eyifaka phantsi koBukhosi bamaMedi namaPersi. Ngolo hlobo waba uyaqalisa ukuba yinyoka nesele neBhabhiloni kunye nokumkani wayo, uNabonidus.

Emva koko uKoreshi waqula elungiselela ukulwa nengangalala eyiBhabhiloni. Yaye ukususela ngelo xesha ukusa phambili, waba negalelo ekuzalisekiseni isiprofeto seBhayibhile. Esebenzisa umprofeti uIsaya, malunga neenkulungwane ezimbini ngaphambili, uYehova wayechaze uKoreshi njengomlawuli owayeza kuyikhahlela phantsi iBhabhiloni aze akhulule amaYuda ebukhobokeni. Kungenxa yesi sabelo wasinikwa kwangaphambili le nto iZibhalo zibiza uKoreshi ‘njengothanjisiweyo’ kaYehova.—Isaya 44:26-28.

Xa uKoreshi wagaleleka eBhabhiloni ngowama-539 B.C.E., wajamelana nomqobo onjengentaba. Esi sixeko sasibonakala singenakoyiswa mntu kuba kaloku sasingqingwe ziindonga ezinkulu nomsele onzulu nobanzi owawenziwe ngumlambo umEfrati. Kwindawo apho umEfrati wawunqumla phakathi eBhabhiloni, kwakukho urhec’ izulu wodonga owayenamasango amakhulu obhedu awayegudle udini lomlambo. Ngaba uKoreshi wayeza kuyiqala ngaphi ukuyihlasela iBhabhiloni?

Kwithuba elingangenkulungwane ngaphambili, uYehova wayexele kwangaphambili ‘ngokuphanziswa kwamanzi ayo’ esithi “amele ome.” (Yeremiya 50:38) Eso siprofeto sazaliseka, uKoreshi wawaphambukisa amanzi oMlambo umEfrati kwiikhilomitha eziliqela kumntla weBhabhiloni. Emva koko umkhosi wakhe wadyamfuza kuloo mlambo uwuthileyo, wanyuka igedukana eliya ngakolo donga, waza wangena lula kweso sixeko ngenxa yokuba amasango obhedu ayeshiywe engavalwanga. ‘Njengentaka edla inyama’ elixhwila ngephanyazo ixhoba layo, lo mlawuli ‘ovela empumalanga’—empuma—wayoyisa iBhabhiloni ngobusuku obunye jwi!

KumaYuda awayeseBhabhiloni, uloyiso lukaKoreshi lwathetha ukufika kwenkululeko ekuthinjweni nesiphelo sokuphanziswa kwelizwe lawo kangangeminyaka engama-70 ekwakukudala sijongwe ngamehlw’ amnyama. Hayi indlela amele ukuba aba nemincili ngayo xa uKoreshi wakhupha umyalelo owawuwagunyazisa ukuba abuyele eYerusalem aze aphinde ayakhe itempile! UKoreshi wabuyisela nempahla exabisekileyo yetempile eyayiphakulwe nguNebhukadenetsare eyisa eBhabhiloni, wawavumela ukuba alande amaplanga okwakha eLebhanon, waza wayalela ukuba iindleko zokwakha zigutyungelwe ngemali yasebhotwe.—Ezra 1:1-11; 6:3-5.

Phofu ke ngokuqhelekileyo uKoreshi wayenobuntu yaye engenamkhethe xa eqhubana nabantu aboyisileyo. Enye into esenokuba yayibangela oku lunqulo lwakhe. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba, uKoreshi wayezondelele iimfundiso zomprofeti wamaPersi uZoroaster yaye enqula uAhura Mazda—uthixo ekwakusithiwa ungumdali wazo zonke izinto ezilungileyo. Kwincwadi yakhe ethi The Zoroastrian Tradition, uFarhang Mehr ubhala enjenje: “UZoroaster wayechaza uThixo njengomntu ogqibeleleyo ngemilinganiselo. Wayexelela abantu ukuba uAhura Mazda wayengenanqala kodwa wayethanda okusesikweni, ibe ngenxa yoko, babengafanele bamoyike kodwa babemele bamthande.” Kusenokwenzeka ukuba kukukholelwa kuthixo onemilinganiselo emihle nothanda okusesikweni okwaba negalelo kwimilinganiselo elungileyo kaKoreshi nokwakhuthaza ukuba nesisa nokuthanda ubulungisa kwakhe.

Noko ke, lo kumkani akazange akwazi ukumelana nemozulu yaseBhabhiloni. Wayengenakuyithwala into yokugqatswa lilanga lalapho lasehlotyeni. Ngoko nangona iBhabhiloni yaqhubeka isisixeko sobukhosi, nesazulu sonqulo nesezinto zenkcubeko, wayengafane awubek’ umcondo wakhe apho ngaphandle kwasebusika. Enyanisweni, emva nje kokuba oyise iBhabhiloni, uKoreshi wakhawuleza wabuyela kwisixeko sakhe awayechitha ihlobo kuso, iEcbatana, eyayimi kwiimitha ezingaphezu kwe-1 900 ngaphezu komlinganiselo wolwandle, kumazantsi eNtaba iAlwand. Kweso sixeko, wayethanda ubusika obubandayo obabulandelwa lihlobo elimyoli. UKoreshi wakwazakhela ipomakazi lebhotwe kwikomkhulu awayelisebenzisa ngaphambilana, iPasargadae (kufuphi nePersepolis), malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-650 kumzantsi mpuma we-Ecbatana. Wayedla ngokuya kweli bhotwe xa eyokuhlab’ ikhefu.

Ngaloo ndlela uKoreshi wazenzel’ udumo njengegorha nokumkani ongenamkhethe. Ulawulo lwakhe lweminyaka engama-30 lwaphela akusutywa kukufa esedabini ngowama-530 B.C.E. Esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi sasePersi kwangena unyana wakhe uCambyses II.

UZUZE NTONI?

• UKoreshi umPersi wazingqina njani ‘engothanjisiweyo’ kaYehova?

• Luluphi uncedo oluxabisekileyo olwanikelwa nguKoreshi kubantu bakaYehova?

• UKoreshi wayebaphatha njani abantu aboyisileyo?

[Imaphu]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

UBUKHOSI BAMAMEDI NAMAPERSI

IMAKEDONIYA

IMemphis

IYIPUTA

ITIYOPIYA

IYerusalem

IBhabhiloni

IEcbatana

ISusa

IPersepolis

I-INDIYA

[Umfanekiso]

Ingcwaba likaKoreshi ePasargadae

[Umfanekiso]

Umfanekiso kaKoreshi ongakrolwanga ngokupheleleyo ePasargadae

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 153-161]

UKUMKANI OSELULA WOYISA IHLABATHI

KWIMINYAKA emalunga nama-2 300 eyadlulayo, injengele eneenwele ezigwangqa neyayikwiminyaka yama-20 ubudala yayimi phezu konxweme loLwandle lweMeditera. Amehlo ayo ayethe nzoo kwisixeko esisesiqithini esikumgama omalunga nekhilomitha. Ekubeni yayiheshwe okomshologu xa yayifuna ukungena kuso, le njengelele eyayilugcalagcala ngumsindo yazimisela ukusoyisa eso sixeko. Yayiza kusihlasela njani? Yayiza kwakha ibhulorho eya kweso siqithi ize ifunze imikhosi yayo kweso sixeko. Wawusele uqalisiwe umsebenzi wokwakha loo bhulorho.

Kodwa isigidimi esafika sivela kukumkani omkhulu woBukhosi bamaPersi sayiphazamisa le njengele iselula. Ezimisele ukudala uxolo, umlawuli wamaPersi wayithembisa ngezinto ezinkulu gqitha: iitalente zegolide ezili-10 000 (ngaphezu kwamawaka ali-12 ezigidi zeerandi ngokwemali yala maxesha), wayithembisa nangokuyinika elinye lamatshawekazi njengomfazi, nangawo wonke ummandla ongasentshona woBukhosi bamaPersi. Yonke le nto yayiza kuyinikwa ukuba yayinokukhulula intsapho kakumkani eyayithinjwe yile njengele.

Le nkumanda eyayijamelene nesigqibo sokwamkela okanye ukungasamkeli eso sipho yayinguAleksandire III waseMakedoniya. Ngaba wayefanele asamkele eso sipho? Umbhali-mbali u-Ulrich Wilcken uthi: “Elo yayilixesha lamanqam kwimbali yamandulo. Eneneni, umphumo wesigqibo awasithabathayo wavakala ukususela kumaXesha Aphakathi ukuhla ukuza kutsho kumhla wethu, eMpuma naseNtshona.” Ngaphambi kokuba sive impendulo ka-Aleksandire, makhe sibone ukuba ibisukele phi na le nto esele imuncu kungokunje.

UKUVELA KWEGORHA

UAleksandire wazalwa ePella, eMakedoniya, ngowama-356 B.C.E. Wayezalwa nguKumkani uPhilip II, unina inguOlympias. Nguye owafundisa uAleksandire ukuba ookumkani baseMakedoniya babevela kumnombo kaHeroklesi, unyana kathixo wamaGrike uZeyus. Ngokutsho kukaOlympias, ukhokho ka-Aleksandire yayinguAchilles, igorha elalichazwa ngumhobe kaHomer onomxholo othi Iliad. Ngaloo ndlela ekubeni laliyincanc’ ebeleni into yokusukela uzuko lokoyisa nokuba ngukumkani, eli tyendyana linguAleksandire alizange lizinanze kangako ezinye izinto. Xa wayebuzwa enoba wayenokulungenela kusini na ugqatso kwiMidlalo YeOlimpiki, uAleksandire waphendula ngelithi wayenokwenjenjalo ukuba wayeza kubaleka nookumkani. Wayezimisele ukwenza izinto ezinkulu kunezo zazenziwe nguyise aze afumane indili ngezinto aziphumezileyo.

Uthe xa eneminyaka eli-13 ubudala, uAleksandire waba phantsi kolwalathiso lwesithandi sobulumko esingumGrike uAristotle, esamfundisa intanda-bulumko, ezamayeza kunye nenzululwazi. Kusaphikiswana nangoku ngomlinganiselo ezathi iimfundiso zeentanda-bulumko zika-Aristotle zayichaphazela ngawo indlela awayecinga ngayo uAleksandire. UBertrand Russell, isithandi sobulumko senkulungwane yama-20, wathi: “Ndicinga ukuba asiyi kuba siziqhwayel’ ukhwembekhwembe xa sisithi amehlo ala maxhwangusha mabini ayengaphakelani. Iimbono zezobupolitika zika-Aristotle zazisekelwe kwingcamango eyayishiywa lixesha yokuba iGrisi imele ibe sisixeko esilizwana elizimeleyo.” Ingcamango yokuba norhulumente omncinane olawula isixeko esililizwana elizimeleyo imele ukuba ayizange iginywe leli tshawe linamabhongo elalizimisele ukwakha ubukhosi obukhulu obumanyeneyo. Kwakhona uAleksandire umele ukuba wayithandabuza ingcamango ka-Aristotle yokubenza amakhoboka abo bangengawo amaGrike, kuba engqondweni yakhe kwakuthe thaa umfanekiso wobukhosi obuneqhina elomeleleyo phakathi kwabo boyisileyo nabo boyisiweyo.

Noko ke, alithandabuzeki elokuba uAristotle wawuhlakulela umdla ka-Aleksandire ezincwadini. UAleksandire wayengamathe nolwimi neencwadi ukutyhubela ubomi bakhe bonke, ezithanda ngokukhethekileyo iincwadi zikaHomer. Kuthiwa wayeyicengceleza i-Iliad—yonke imigca yaloo mbongo engama-15 693—ngentloko.

Ukufundiswa kweli tshawe lineminyaka eli-16 ubudala nguAristotle kwafikelela esiphelweni ngesiquphe ngowe-340 B.C.E., xa labuyela ePella liye kulawula iMakedoniya logama uyise esathe tshalala. Yaye eli tshawe liyindlalifa alizange liphozise maseko ekuzibaluleni kwezomkhosi. Lawathi qwaka-qwaka amaMaedi aseThrace awayevukela, lasithi hlasi ngephanyazo isixeko salo, laza loo ndawo layithiya ngegama lalo lisithi yiAlexandroúpolis, ibe yonke loo nto yamshiya encume yedwa uPhilip.

UKUQHUBEKA NOLOYISO

Ukugwintwa kukaPhilip ngowama-336 B.C.E. kwabangela ukuba uAleksandire owayeneminyaka engama-20 ubudala angene esihlalweni sobukhosi saseMakedoniya. Ngentwasahlobo yowama-334 B.C.E. uAleksandire wagaleleka eAsia engena ngeHellespont (ngoku eyiDardanelles), waqalisa iphulo lokucel’ undikho enomkhosi omncinane, kodwa owawusenz’ iinto zamehlo, wamajoni ahamba ngeenyawo angama-30 000 nakhwele amahashe angama-5 000. Umkhosi wakhe wawuphelekwa ziinjineli, oonocanda, iingcibi zokwakha, izazinzulu nababhali-mbali.

UAleksandire waphumelela idabi lakhe lokuqala kuMlambo iGranicus okwimbombo ekumntla ntshona yeAsia Minor (namhlanje eyiTurkey), esoyisa amaPersi. Ebudeni bobo busika wayoyisa intshona yeAsia Minor. Ngokwindla olulandelayo kwaba mdak’ iisali kwidabi lesibini namaPersi eIssus, kwimbombo ekumzantsi ntshona yeAsia Minor. Equle ngomkhosi wamadoda amalunga nesiqingatha sesigidi, uKumkani uDariyo III owayeyingangalala yamaPersi wamhlangabeza uAleksandire. UDariyo owayezithembe ngokugqithiseleyo weza nonina, umkakhe, namanye amalungu entsapho yakhe ukuze aze kumbona xa eqwakanisa iintshaba. Kwathi kanti amaPersi akaqondanga ukuba izithwalandwe zaseMakedoniya zenza amatshe kunjalo nje zisenz’ intw’ ibonakale xa zihlasela. Imikhosi ka-Aleksandire yawubhuq’ usizi lwento umkhosi wamaPersi, ibe uDariyo wacela kwabanentsente, eyishiy’ ezandleni zika-Aleksandire naloo ntsapho yakhe.

Kunokuba abe sisibhene emva kwamaPersi awayeziph’ amathafa, uAleksandire wenjenjeya ukusinga ngasemzantsi egugutha uNxweme lweMeditera, egqugqisa kwiinkampu zomkhosi waselwandle onamandla wamaPersi. Kodwa isixeko esisesiqithini saseTire saluxhathisa olu hlaselo. Ezimisele ukusibamba ngobhongwana, uAleksandire waqalisa ungqingo olwathabatha iinyanga ezisixhenxe. Savela ebudeni bolo ngqingo ke isicelo sikaDariyo sebuyambo esikhankanywe ngaphambilana. Izinto awayethenjiswa ngazo zazinqweneleka kangangokuba kuthiwa intong’ esekhosi ka-Aleksandire uParmenio yathi: ‘Ukuba ibindim uAleksandire, bendiya kuzamkela.’ Kodwa eli tyendyana lenjengele laphindisa ngelithi: ‘Nam bendiya kwenjenjalo, ukuba bendinguParmenio.’ Engafuni nokuva, uAleksandire waqhubeka eyingqinga waza wayiphanzisa loo nzwakazi ithwel’ ilunda yaselwandle ngoJulayi wama-332 B.C.E.

Eyixolela iYerusalem, eyagob’ uphondo kuye, uAleksandire wehlela emzantsi, waza wathimba iGaza. Ikruquke ingafuni nokuva lulawulo lwamaPersi, iYiputa yamamkela njengowayeze kucim’ iintsizi zayo. Ukufika kwakhe eMemphis wanyusa idini kwinkunzi yenkomo eyiApis, nto leyo eyabashiya ababingeleli bamaYiputa imilom’ ingahlangani luvuyo. Kwakhona wakha isixeko saseAlexandria esathiywa ngegama lakhe, nesathi kamva sashiyiselana ngotyefezo neAthene ngokuba zizazulu zemfundo.

Ukusuka apho, uAleksandire wajongis’ umbombo kumntla mpuma, wenyukela kwelasePalestina waya kuqabela kuMlambo iTigris. Ngowama-331 B.C.E., kwaphinda kwadibana ebezikade zizondana xa wayequbisana namaPersi eGaugamela, kude kufuphi namabhodlo aseNineve. Ngesi sihlandlo amadoda ka-Aleksandire angama-47 000 awugagamela umkhosi owawuphinde wabuthwa phantsi wamaPersi owawunamadoda ubuncinane angama-250 000! UDariyo wathi yaphuka xhongo waza kamva wagwintwa kwangabantu bakhe.

Sele enyathelela phezulu ngenxa yoloyiso, uAleksandire wafunza emzantsi waza wathimba isixeko saseBhabhiloni amaPersi awayesithi ncwaba kuso ebusika. Kwakhona wangena kwisixeko saseShushan nesasePersepolis, eziphakulela kanobom kubuqheleqhele bobuncwane bamaPersi waza walitshisa ipomakazi lebhotwe likaXerxes. Hayi ke, intw’ enkulu yaqwela ngokuthabatha isixeko sase-Ecbatana. Emva koko esi sithwalandwe sinamendu okwexhalanga sawuhlutha wonke umhlaba wamaPersi, sisiya ngasentshona sada saya kuma ngoMlambo i-Indus, ekwilizwe ngoku ekuthiwa yiPakistan.

Uthe akuwela i-Indus, ekummandla ongumda wephondo lamaPersi laseTaxila, uAleksandire wagagana nentanga yakhe, ukumkani wamaIndiya uPorus. Imfazwe eyayinxamnye nalo kumkani ngoJuni 326 B.C.E., yaba lidabi lika-Aleksandire lokugqibela kumadabi amane anzima awawalwayo. Phakathi komkhosi kaPorus kwakukho amadoda angama-35 000 neendlovu ezingama-200, ezawatsho anamanwele amahashe aseMakedoniya. Kwakubamben’ izangxa ibubutyadidi ligazi, kodwa imikhosi ka-Aleksandire yaphumelela. UPorus waxhom’ izandla waza waba lihlakani lakhe.

Kwakudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwesibhozo umkhosi waseMakedoniya uwelele eAsia, ibe amajoni ayedikwe yeyokosa yaye ekhumbul’ amakhaya. Etyhafile ngenxa yedabi elitshisayo awayelilwe noPorus, ayefuna ukugoduka. Nangona wayemathidala ekuqaleni, uAleksandire wavumelana nawo. IGrisi yayide yalilo igunya lehlabathi. Ekubeni amazwe oyisiweyo enziwa amathanga aseGrisi, ulwimi nezithethe zamaGrike zazalisa wonke loo mmandla.

AMABAL’ ENGWE NGESI SITHWALANDWE

Eyona nto yayigcina umkhosi waseMakedoniya uyimbumba yamanyama ukutyhubela loo minyaka yamadabi yayibubuntu buka-Aleksandire. Emva kwamadabi, uAleksandire wayedla ngokutyelela iingxwelerha, aze aphulul’ amanxeba, awatyibele ewabonga amajoni ngezenzo zawo zenkalipho, aze awavave ngezipho ngokwendlela alwe ngayo. Lawo afele edabini, uAleksandire wayewenzela umngcwabo omkhulu. Abazali nabantwana bamadoda afele edabini babengahlawuliswa nokuba ibe nye irhafu yaye bengazenzi iinkonzo ezithile. Ukuze aphumz’ iingqondo emva kwamadabi, uAleksandire wayeququzelela imidlalo ethile nokhuphiswano. Ngesinye isihlandlo wada wanika amadoda awayesandul’ ukutshata ikhefu, ukuze akwazi ukuchitha ubusika ekunye nabafazi bawo, eMakedoniya. Izenzo ezinjalo zazimenza athandwe yaye abukwe ngamadoda akhe.

Ehlomla ngomtshato ka-Aleksandire neNkosazana yaseBactria uRoxana, umbhali ongumGrike uPlutarch ubhala enjenje: “Babengathandani besus’ amaphepha, yaye kwangaxeshanye oko kuthandana kwabo kwaba luncedo ekuphumezeni iinjongo zakhe. Kaloku abantu awayeboyisile bavuya xa bembona ezikhethela umfazi phakathi kwabo, ibe kwabenza bamthanda nangakumbi ukufumanisa ukuba nakuba wayedumb’ intloko enjalo nguye, ululamo owayenalo lwamenza akamchukumisa de wamtshata ngokusemthethweni nangendlela ebekekileyo.”

UAleksandire wayeyihlonela nemitshato yabanye abantu. Nangona umfazi kaKumkani uDariyo wayengumthinjwa wakhe, waqiniseka ukuba wayephathwa ngentlonelo. Kwakhona, wathi akuva ukuba amajoni amabini aseMakedoniya ayexhaphaze abafazi babantu abathile basemzini, wayalela ukuba abulawe ukuba afunyaniswe enetyala.

UAleksandire wayefuze unina uOlympias ngokuthanda unqulo. Wayedla ngokunyusa amadini ngaphambi nasemva kwamadabi aze adibanis’ iintloko nezanuse zakhe besompa intsingiselo yemihlola ethile. Wayedla ngokuluman’ indlebe nosiyazi othile waseAmmon, eLibya. Yaye eBhabhiloni wayenyusa amadini ngokwemiyalelo yamaKhaledi, ngokukodwa kuthixo waseBhabhiloni uBel (uMarduk).

Nangona uAleksandire wayengcathu ekutyeni, ekugqibeleni waba yindla-manzi. Wayedla ngokushwaqa angayeki ethe qhiwu indebe yobhelu lomsele aze aqhayise ashiy’ ayilibeleyo kwizinto awaziphumezayo. Enye yezona zinto zilisikizi ezenziwa nguAleksandire yayikukubulala umhlobo wakhe uClitus, ngenxa yomsindo yaye ephantsi kwempembelelo yotywala. Kodwa uAleksandire waba nomvandedwa ngenxa yesi senzo kangangokuba walala kumandlalo wakhe kangangeentsuku ezintathu, engafuni kutya nanto iselwayo. Ekugqibeleni, abahlobo bakhe bakwazi ukumcenga de watya.

Ethubeni, ukunyolukel’ uzuko kuka-Aleksandire kwavelisa olunye utyekelo olungathandekiyo. Waqalisa ukukholelwa zonke izityholo zobuxoki waza wabohlwaya ngokuqatha abo batyholwayo. Ngokomzekelo, wathi akuxelelwa ukuba uPhilotas wayebandakanyekile kwilinge lokumgebenga, uAleksandire wayalela ukuba yena noyise, uParmenio, umcebisi wakhe ngaphambili awayemthembile, babulawe.

EKUPHELA KWESIHLANDLO AWOYISWA NGASO UALEKSANDIRE

Kungekudala emva kokubuyela kwakhe eBhabhiloni, uAleksandire wahlaselwa sisifo seengcongconi, ibe akazange achache. NgoJuni 13, 323 B.C.E., ephile iminyaka engama-32 neenyanga ezisi-8 nje kuphela, uAleksandire wagob’ uphondo kolona tshaba lutshatsheleyo, ukufa.

Kwenzeka kanye into eyayichazwe sisilumko saseIndiya xa sathi: “Owu Kumkani Aleksandire, ekuphela komhlaba enawo indoda nganye lelo suntswana imi phezu kwalo; ibe wena lo uyafana nje namanye amadoda, uyeke nje into yokuba usisiquququ yaye ungadinwa, uhl’ unyuka kulo lonke eli limiweyo kude lee nenkaba yakho, uhamb’ uzinqikel’ elinenkume, yaye usukelana nabanye abantu. Kodwa ke kungekudala uza kufa, yaye ekuphela komhlaba oza kuba nawo ngulowo uza kungcwatywa kuwo.”

UZUZE NTONI?

• Wayekhule njani uAleksandire Omkhulu?

• Liliphi iphulo elaqaliswa nguAleksandire emva nje kokungena esihlalweni saseMakedoniya?

• Chaza amanye amadabi awoyisa kuwo uAleksandire.

• Sazi ntoni ngobuntu buka-Aleksandire?

[Imaphu]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

AMADABI AWOYISWA NGUALEKSANDIRE

IMAKEDONIYA

IYIPUTA

IBhabhiloni

UMlambo I-Indus

[Umfanekiso]

UAleksandire

[Umfanekiso]

UAristotle nomfundi wakhe uAleksandire

[Full-page picture]

[Umfanekiso]

Ingqekembe yegolide enomfanekiso ka-Aleksandire Omkhulu

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 162, 163]

UBUKUMKANI OBUKHULU BUYAHLULWA

ITHETHA ngobukumkani buka-Aleksandire Omkhulu, iBhayibhile yaxela kwangaphambili ukuba babuza kuqhekeka buze bahlulelwe “abangengabo abesizukulwana sakhe.” (Daniyeli 11:3, 4) Kwenzeka loo nto kanye, kungaphelanga neminyaka eli-14 uAleksandire efe ngesiquphe ngowama-323 B.C.E., unyana wakhe womtshato uAleksandire IV kunye nonyana awamfumana ngaphandle komtshato, uHeracles bagwintwa.

Ngowama-301 B.C.E., iinjengele ezine zika-Aleksandire zazibeka esikhundleni sokulawula bonke ubukhosi obabakhiwe yinkumanda yazo. UNjengele uCassander wabamb’ iintambo eMakedoniya naseGrisi. UNjengele uLysimachus wazifumanela iAsia Minor neThrace. Ukanti iMesopotamiya neSiriya zawela ezandleni zikaSeleucus I Nicator. Waza uPtolemy Lagus, okanye uPtolemy I, walawula iYiputa nePalestina. Ngaloo ndlela ubukumkani obunye obukhulu buka-Aleksandire bavelisa izikumkani ezine zamaGrike.

Kwezi zikumkani zine zamaGrike, lulawulo lukaCassander olwakhawuleza lwaphela. Kwiminyaka embalwa emva kokuba uCassander eqalise ukulawula, wafelwa ngawo onke amathol’ angamaduna, ibe ngowama-285 B.C.E., uLysimachus wazixathulela inxalenye yaseYurophu yoBukhosi baseGrisi. Kwiminyaka emine kamva, uLysimachus wafel’ edabini esilwa noSeleucus I Nicator, nto leyo eyamenza wafumana inxalenye enkulu yemihlaba yaseAsia. USeleucus waba ngowokuqala kookumkani abangooSeleucus baseSiriya. Wakha iAntiyokwe yaseSiriya waza wayenza ikomkhulu lakhe elitsha. USeleucus wagwintwa ngowama-281 B.C.E., kodwa umnombo wakhe waqhubeka ulawula de kwangowama-64 B.C.E. xa iNjengele yamaRoma uPompey yenza iSiriya iphondo laseRoma.

Kumacandelo amane obukhosi buka-Aleksandire, bubukumkani booPtolemy obahlala ixesha elide. UPtolemy I wangena kwisikhundla sokuba ngukumkani ngowama-305 B.C.E. waza waba ngukumkani, okanye uFaro, wokuqala waseMakedoni eYiputa. Ukuze enze iAlexandria ibe likomkhulu lakhe, wakhawuleza waqalisa iphulo lokwakha loo dolophu. Esinye sezona zakhiwo zakhe zikhulu yayiliThala Leencwadi lodumo laseAlexandria. UPtolemy waya eGrisi eyokuphuthuma umphengululi owaziwayo waseAthene, uDemetrius Phalereus, ukuze alathise kulo msebenzi mkhulu. Kuthiwa, ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, eli thala lalinemisongo esisigidi. OoPtolemy baqhubeka belawula iYiputa de boyiswa yiRoma ngowama-30 B.C.E. Emva koko iRoma yathabath’ aph’ ibiyeke khona iGrisi, yaza yaba ligunya lehlabathi elinamandla.

UZUZE NTONI?

• Bahlulwahlulwa njani ubukhosi obukhulu buka-Aleksandire?

• Ookumkani abangooSeleucus baqhubeka belawula de kwanini eSiriya?

• Baphela nini ubukumkani booPtolemy eYiputa?

[Imaphu]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

UKUQHEKEKA KOBUKHOSI BUKA-ALEKSANDIRE

UCassander

ULysimachus

UPtolemy I

USeleucus I

[Imifanekiso]

UPtolemy I

USeleucus I

[Umzobo/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 139]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

AMAGUNYA EHLABATHI ESIPROFETO SIKADANIYELI

Umfanekiso omkhulu (Daniyeli 2:31-45)

Amarhamncwa amane aphuma elwandle (Daniyeli 7:3-8, 17, 25)

IBHABHILONI ukususela ngowama-607 B.C.E.

AMAMEDI NAMAPERSI ukususela ngowama-539 B.C.E.

IGRISI ukususela ngowama-331 B.C.E.

IROMA ukususela ngowama-30 B.C.E.

IGUNYA LEHLABATHI LAMANGESI NAMAMERIKA ukususela ngowe-1763 C.E.

IHLABATHI ELAHLULAHLULWE LABA NGAMAZWE ngexesha lesiphelo

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 128]

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 147]