Iminyaka yokuqala yolawulo lukaYehoyakim yayizaliswe zizilumkiso zentshabalalo ezayo. Ilizwi likaYehova elathethwa ngabaprofeti lalise liza kuzaliseka. Igunya leAsiriya ngasentla, nelalikade liphezulu, lalingasayi kuba sazilawula ixesha elide iintlanga. IYiputa ngasezantsi, nawayebeke ithemba lakhe kuyo ngelize ukumkani wakwaYuda, yayisele iza kunqunyanyiswa. Kwathi kungalindelekanga, igunya elinamandla lehlabathi, ubukumkani baseBhabheli, lanyuka lisiya ngasempuma, laye lizigubungela ngokukhawuleza zonke ezinye izizwe. AN 422.1
Kwisithuba nje seminyaka embalwa, ukumkani waseBhabheli wayeza kusetyenziswa njengesixhobo sengqumbo kaThixo phezu kukaYuda ongenako ukuzohlwaya. IYerusalem yayiza kuphindaphindwa ingqongwa ize ingenwe yimikhosi kaNebhukadenetsare engqingileyo. Iqela emva kweqela—abantu abambalwa ekuqaleni, kodwa kamva, amawaka namashumi amawaka—kwafuneka ethinjiwe asiwe elizweni laseShinare, ukuba ahlale apho ekudingisweni okunyanzelekileyo. UYehoyakim, noYehoyakin, kunye noZedekiya—bonke aba kumkani bathathu,ngamaxesha abo awahlukeneyo, babeza kuba ngabameli bomlawuli bomlawuli weBhabheli, baza bonke kwafuneka bavukele. Ukohlwaywa okuqine ngokuphindaphindiweyo kwafuneka bengcungcuthekise ngako isizwe esivukelayo, ize iYerusalem yenziwe ibe linxuwa, itshiswe ngomlilo, itempile eyakhiwa nguSolomon itshatyalaliswe, buze ubukumkani bakwaYuda buwe, bungabuye bube kwindawo yabo yangaphambili phakathi kwezizwe zomhlaba. AN 422.2
Loo maxesha otshintsho, ayezele yintlekele kwisizwe sakwaIsrayeli, enezigidimi ezininzi ezivela eZulwini ngoYeremiya. Ngaloo ndlela uYehova wabanika abantwana bakwaYuda ithuba elininzi lokuzikhulula kwiimbophelelo zezivumelwano neYiputa, nokuphepha imbambano nabalawuli baseBhabheli. Njengoko ingozi eyayilindelekile yayisiya isondela, wabafundisa abantu ngemizekeliso eliqela eyayisenzeka, enethemba lokuvusa kubo ingqondo yoxanduva lwabo ngakuThixo, kwanokubakhuthaza ukuba bagcine ubudlelwane obuhle nolawulo lwaseBhabheli. AN 423.1
Ukubonisa ukubaluleka kokuthobela ngokupheleleyo koko kufunwa nguThixo, uYeremiya waqokelela iqela lamaRekabhi wawafaka kwelinye igumbi letempile, wabeka iwayini phambi kwabo, ebacela ukuba basele. Njengoko kwakulindelekile, wahlangana nokuthethiswa kakhulu kwanokwaliwa kwesicelo sakhe. “Asiyiseli iwayini,” atsho amaRekabhi eqinile, “ngokuba uYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi, ubawo, wasiwisela umthetho wokuthi, Zeningaseli wayini, nina, noonyana benu, naphakade.” AN 423.2
“Kwafika ilizwi likaYehova kuYeremiya, lisithi, Utsho uYehova wemikhosi, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Yiya, uthi kumadoda akwaYuda nakubemi baseYerusalem anikuvumi na ukuqeqeshwa, ukuba niwaphulaphule amazwi am? Utsho uYehova. Agciniwe amazwi kaYonadabhi, unyana kaRekabhi, awabawisela oonyana bakhe ukuba bangaseli wayini; abaseli unanamhla, bawuphulaphula ke umthetho kayise.” Yeremiya 35:6, 12-14. AN 424.1
UThixo wayefuna ngaloo ndlela ukuveza umahluko omkhulu phakathi kokuthobela kwamaRekabhi nokungathobeli novukelo lwabantu baKhe. AmaRekabhi ayethobele umyalelo kayise aza ngoku awavuma ukurhuqelwa ekuwaphuleni. Amadoda akwaYuda wona, awawaphulaphulanga amazwi kaYehova, aza ajongana nesiphumo sokuzuza izohlwayo zaKhe ezinzima. AN 424.2
“Ke mna ndathetha kuni, ndithetha, ndivuka kusasa;” watsho uYehova, “anindiphulaphulanga. Ndabathumela kuni bonke abakhonzi bam, abaprofeti, ndibathuma, ndivuka kusasa, ndisithi, Khanibuye, elowo endleleni yakhe embi, nilungise iintlondi zenu, ningalandeli thixo bambi, ukuze nibakhonze; nohlala ke emhlabeni endawunika nina nooyihlo. Ke anizithobanga iindlebe zenu, anindiphulaphulanga. Inene, oonyana bakaYonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi bawugcinile umthetho kayise, awabawiselayo; ke bona aba bantu abandiphulaphuli. Ngako oko utsho uYehova, uThixo wemikhosi, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Yabonani, ndiwazisela amaYuda nabemi bonke baseYerusalem bonke obu bubi ndathethayo ngabo; ngenxa yokuba ndathetha kubo, abeva; ndababiza, abasabela. Iindima 14-17. AN 424.3
Xa iintliziyo zabantu zithe zathamba zoyiswa yimpembelelo enyanzelayo kaMoya Oyingcwele, ziya kulithobela icebiso; kodwa xa bathe basuka kuso isiyalo zada iintliziyo zabo zaba lukhuni, uYehova uyabavumela ukuba bakhokelwe zezinye iimpembelelo. Ukwala inyaniso, bamkela ubuxoki, obuthi bube ngumgibe wentshabalalo yabo. AN 425.1
UThixo wayemkhungile uYuda ukuba angamcaphukisi ukuba abe nomsindo, kodwa abamphulaphulanga. Ekugqibeleni sawiswa isigwebo ngakubo. Babeza kukhokelelwa ekuthinjweni eBhabheli. AmaKhaledi ayeza kusetyenziswa njengesixhobo uThixo awayeza kohlwaya ngaso abantu baKhe abangathobeliyo. Imbulaleko yabantu bakwaYuda yayiza kulingana nokukhanya ababenako nakwizilumkiso abazidelayo bazilandula. Kwakulithuba elide uThixo ezilibazisile izohlwayo zaKhe, kodwa ngoku wayeza kubonisa ukungakholiswa kwaKhe kubo njengelinge lokugqibela lokuthintela indlela yabo yobubi. AN 425.2
Phezu kwendlu kaRekabhi, kwavakaliswa intsikelelo engapheliyo. Umprofeti wathi, “Ngenxa enokuba niwuphulaphule umthetho kaYonadabhi uyihlo, nayigcina yonke imithetho yakhe, nenza ngako konke awaniwisela umthetho ngako; ngako oko utsho uYehova wemikhosi, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuthi, UYonadabhi, unyana kaRekabhi, akayi kunqunyukelwa ndoda yakuma phambi kwam yonke imihla.” Iindima 18, 19. Ngaloo ndlela uThixo wabafundisa abantu ukuba, ukunyaniseka nokuthobela kuya kubonakalaliswa kuYuda ngentsikelelo, njengoko amaRekabhi asikelelwa ngokuthobela umyalelo kayise. AN 425.3
Isifundo siza kuthi.Ukuba okufunwangumzali olungileyo nolumkileyo, owathabathakonkeanako okukokonakulungileyo nokunengeniso ukuze aqinisekise inkuseleko yekamva lenzala yakhe kububi bokungabi nabungcathu, kwakufanelekile ukuba kuthotyelwe ngqongqo, ngokuqinisekileyo, igunya likaThixo limelwe ukuhlonelwa ngembeko engaphezulu njengoko engcwele kunomntu. UMdali noMphathi-mkhosi wethu, onamandla angenamda, nowoyikekayo ekugwebeni, ufuna ukuba ngazo zonke iindlela ukubazisa abantu ekuboneni nasekuguqukeni ezonweni zabo. Ngomlomo wabakhonzi baKhe, uxela kwangaphambili iingozi zokungathobeli; athethe ilizwi lokulumkisa nokulwisana ngokuthembekileyo nesono. Abantu baKhe bagcinwa besempumelelweni kuphela yinceba yaKhe, ngezixhobo zakhe ezinyuliweyo ezihleli zibalindile. Akanakho ukuphakamisa aluse abantu abakwalayo ukucebisa kwaKhe nabakucekisayo ukukhalima kwakhe. Okwexesha elithile, uya kuzibamba izohlwayo zaKhe zempindezelo; ukanti akayi kuhlala esibambile isandla saKhe. AN 426.1
Abantwana bakwaYuda babalelwa kwabo uThixo wayethe ngabo, “Nibe bubukumkani bababingeleli kum, nohlanga olungcwele.” Eksodus 19:6. Akazange uYeremiya alahlwekwe ngumbono wokubaluleka kakhulu kobungcwele bentliziyo kwiindlela ezahlukeneyo zobomi, ngakumbi emsebenzini kaThixo ophezu kwako konke. Ngokucacileyo wakubona kwangaphambili ukuwa kobukumkani nokusasazeka kwabemi bakwaYuda phakathi kweentlanga; kodwa ngeliso lokholo wajonga ngaphaya kwako konke oku kumaxesha okubuyiselwa. Kwakukhala ezindlebeni zakhe isithembiso sezulu: “Ndiya kuwabutha mna amasalela omhlambi wam emazweni onke endawagxothela kuwo, ndiwabuyisele emakriweni awo. . . . Yabonani, iyeza imihla, utsho uYehova, endiya kummisela uDavide iHlumelo elililungisa, libe nguKumkani ongukumkani, enze yena ngengqiqo, enzeokusesikweni nobulungisa ehlabathini. Ngemihla yakhe uya kusindiswa uYuda, uIsrayeli ahlale ekholosile; negama lakhe, aya kubizwa ngalo, leli lokuba, UYEHOVA-UBUBULUNGISA-BETHU.” Yeremiya 23:3-6. AN 426.2
Ngako ke iziprofeto ezingezigwebo ezizayo zazixutywe nezithembiso zokuhlangulwa kokugqibela okunozuko. Abo babeza kukhetha ukwenza uxolo lwabo noThixo baze baphile ubomi obungcwele phakathi kokreqo olwalukho, babeza kuzuza amandla [okumelana nazo] zonke izilingo baze bakwazi ukungqina ngaYe ngamandla amakhulu. Kanti ke, kwizizukulwana ezaziseza kulandela, ukuhlangulwa ezaziza kwenzelwa, kwakuza kudlula ngokubaluleka koko kwenzelwa abantwana bakwaIsrayeli ngexesha leMfuduko. Yayisiza imihla, watsho uYehova ngomprofeti waKhe, “abangasayi kuba sathi, Ehleli nje uYehova, owanyusa oonyana bakaIsrayeli ezweni lamaYiputa; baya kuthi, Ehleli nje uYehova [Uhleli uYehova (NKJV)], owayinyusayo, owayizisayo imbewu yendlu yakwaIsrayeli, ivela ezweni lasentla, nasemazweni onke endabagxothela kuwo; bahlale emhlabeni wabo.” Iindima 7, 8. Zazinjalo iziprofeto ezimangalisayo ezathethwa nguYeremiya ngexesha lokuphela kweminyaka yembali yobukumkani bakwaYuda, xa amaBhabheli ayefikelela ekulilawuleni lonke ilizwe, ekwazisa imikhosi yawo ukuba izingqinge iindonga zeYerusalem. AN 427.1
Njengeyona ngoma yakha yamnandi, ezi zithembiso zokuhlangulwa zawa ezindlebeni zabo babemi baqina ekunquleni uYehova. Emakhayeni abaphezulu nabaphantsi, apho iziyalo zikaThixo ongumgcini womnqophiso zazisahlonitshwa, amazwi omprofeti ayesaphindaphindwa njalo. Nabantwana baya bachukumiseka ngamandla, kwathi ezingqondweni zabo eziselula nekulula ukwamkela kwabakho imida ehlala ihleli. AN 427.2
Yayikukugcina kwabo ngenkathalo imiyalelo yesiBhalo esiNgcwele, okwathi ngemihla yokusebenza kukaYeremiya kwazisa kuDaniyeli namaqabane akhe amathuba okuphakamisa uThixo oyinyaniso phambi kwezizwe zomhlaba. Imfundiso eyafunyanwa ngaba bantwana bamaHebhere emakhayeni abazali babo, yabenza bomelela elukholweni banyaniseka ekusebenzeleni uThixo ophilileyo, uMdali wamazulu nomhlaba. Xa, ekuqaleni kolawulo lukaYehoyakim, uNebhukadenetsare okokuqala wangqinga wathimba iYerusalem, wathwalela ekuthinjweni uDaniyeli namaqabane akhe, kunye nabanye ababekhethelwe imisebenzi eyodwa enkundleni yaseBhabheli, ukholo lwabathinjwa bamaHebhere lwavavanywa ngokukhulu. Abo ke babefunde ukubeka ithemba labo kwizithembiso zikaThixo bazifumana zanele ngokupheleleyo kuzo zonke iimeko ababizelwa ukuba badlule kuzo ngexesha lokuphambukela kwabo ezweni lasemzini. IziBhalo kubo zaba yinkokhelo nesixhaso. AN 428.1
Njengomchazi wentsingiselo yezigwebo ezaziqala ukuwa phezu kukaYuda, uYeremiya wema ngokubalaseleyo ekukhuseleni ubulungisa bukaThixo namacebo enceba yaKhe nakwezona zohlwayo ziqatha kakhulu. Wasebenza engadinwa umprofeti. Elangazelela ukufikelela zonke iindidi, wawandisa umda wempembelelo yakhe ngaphaya kweYerusalem, wafikelela kwizithili ezijikelezileyo ngokuthi rhoqo ukutyelela iindawo ezahlukeneyo zobukumkani. AN 428.2
Kwizingqino zakhe ebandleni, uYeremiya wahlala ebhekisa kwiimfundiso zencwadi yomthetho eyayihlonitshwe yaphakanyiswa kakhulu ngexesha lokulawula kukaYosiya. Wacinezelangokutsha ukubaluleka kokugcinwa kobudlelwane bomnqophiso naLowo unenceba yonke nonovelwano nowathi phezu kweencopho zeSinayi wayithetha imiyalelo yemiThetho eliShumi. Amazwi kaYeremiya okulumkisa nokucenga afikelela kuzo zonke iindawo zobukumkani, baye bonke benalo ithuba lokuyazi intando kaThixo ngokubhekiselele esizweni. AN 429.1
Umprofeti wayibeka yacaca into yokuba uBawo osemazulwini uyazivumela izigwebo zaKhe ukuba ziwe, ukuze “zazi iintlanga ukuba ziluluntu kuphela.” Indumiso 9:20. “Ukuba nithe nahamba ngokundichasa, anavuma ukundiphulaphula,” uYehova wabalumkisa kwangaphambili abantu baKhe, “ndonichithachitha phakathi kweentlanga, ndirhole ikrele lam emva kwenu, ilizwe lenu kube senkangala.” Levitikus 26:21, 28, 33. AN 429.2
Ngexesha kanye izigidimi zentshabalalo eyayisondele zazinyanzelwa kubathetheli nabantu, umlawuli wabo, uYehoyakim, owayemele ukuba uyinkokheli elumkileyo yasemoyeni, nowayefanelwe kuba ngoyena uphambili ekuvumeni isono nasekuhlaziyeni nasemisebenzini elungileyo, wasuka walichitha ixesha lakhe eziyolweni zokuzithandela. “Ndiya kuzakhela indlu ebanzi namagumbi aphezulu anombilini,” wacebisa; ize lendlu, “ayifulele ngemisedare, ayiqabe ngembola!” (Yeremiya 22:14), yaza yakhiwa ngemali nabasebenzi abafunyenwe ngobuqhetseba nengcinezelo. AN 429.3
Ingqumbo yomprofeti yavuka, waphefumlelwa ukuba avakalise isigwebo phezu komlawuli ongenalukholo. “Yeha, oyakhayo indlu yakhe kungengabulungisa, namagumbi akhe aphezulu kungengokusesikweni;” watsho, “komkhonzisayo ummelwane wakhe ngelize, angamniki umvuzo wakhe. . . . Unobukumkani na, xa ushiyisela ngokwakha ngemisedare? Uyihlo ubengadli, asele, enze okusesikweni nobulungisa, yini na,kwaza kwalunga kuye? AN 429.4
Ubeligweba ityala losizana nolihlwempu; kwaza kwalunga. Asikukona oko ukundazi? utsho uYehova. Ngokuba akabheke ntweni amehlo akho nentliziyo yakho, kuphela akwinzuzo yakho nakwigazi labamsulwa, ukuze liphalazwe; asekucudiseni nasekuvikiveni, ukuba wenze oko. AN 429.5
“Ngako oko utsho uYehova ngoYehoyakim unyana kaYosiya, ukumkani wakwaYuda, ukuthi, Abayi kummbambazelela, besithi, Yoo, mnakwethu! Yoo, dade wethu! Abayi kummbambazelela, besithi Yoo, nkosi! Yoo, ndili yakhe! Uya kungcwatywa ngokungcwatywa kwe-esile, akrwiqilizwe, alahlwe kude namasango aseYerusalem.” Iindima 13-19. AN 430.1
Kwiminyaka nje embalwa, esi sigwebo sibi sasiza kumfikela uYehoyakim; kodwa uYehova ngenceba, waqala wasixelela isizwe esingazohlwayiyo ngenjongo yaKhe agqibe ngayo. Ngomnyaka wesine wokulawula kukaYehoyakim, “[wathetha] uYeremiya umprofeti kubantu bonke bakwaYuda, nakubemi bonke baseYerusalem,” exela ukuba, ngaphezu kwamashumi amabini eminyaka, “kuthabathela kumnyaka weshumi elinesithathu kaYosiya, . . . kuzise kule mini,” wayethwele isigidimi solangazelelo lukaThixo ukusindisa, kodwa isigidimi sakhe sadelelwa. Yeremiya 25:2, 3. Ngoku ke, ilizwi likaYehova eliza kubo lalisithi: AN 430.2
“Ngako oko utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Ngenxa enokuba ningawevanga amazwi am, yabonani, Ndithumela ukuba ndiyithabathe yonke imizalwane yelasentla, utsho uYehova; ndithumela uNebhukadenetsare ukumkani waseBhabheli, umkhonzi wam, ndiyizisele phezu kweli lizwe, naphezu kwabemi balo, naphezu kwezi ntlanga zonke, ngenxa zonke; ndizisingele phantsi, ndizenze ummangaliso nomsondlo, neempanza ezingunaphakade; ndoliphelisa phakathi kwazo izwi lemihlali nezwi lemivuyo, izwi lomyeni nezwi lomtshakazi, izwi lokusila nokukhanya kwesibane. Eli lizwe lonke liyakubharha, kube senkangala; ezi ntlanga zimkhonze ukumkani waseBhabheli iminyaka emashumi asixhenxe.” Iindima 8-11. AN 430.3
Nangona isigwebo sentshabalalo sasivakaliswe ngokucacileyo, ukubaluleka kwaso okoyikekayo akuzange kuqondwe kakuhle zizihlwele ezasivayo. Ukuze kubekho intsingiselo enzulu, uYehova wazama ukwenza umfanekiselo wamazwi athethwayo. Wamyalela uYeremiya ukuba asifanise isiphelo sesizwe nokuselwa kwendebe ezele yiwayini yomsindo ongcwele. Phakathi kwabokuqala ukusela kule ndebe yosizi, yayiza kuba “[yi]Yerusalem, nemizi yakwaYuda, nookumkani bayo.” Abanye ababeza kuthabatha kwakuyo apho—“[ngu]Faro ukumkani waseYiputa, nabakhonzi bakhe, nabathetheli bakhe, nabantu bakhe bonke,” nezinye izizwe zomhlaba—ide ifezekiswe injongo kaThixo. Bona uYeremiya 25. AN 431.1
Ukubonisa ngakumbi imo yezigwebo ezazisiza ngokukhawuleza, umprofeti wayalelwa ukuba “athabathe inxenye yamadoda amakhulu abantu, neyamadoda amakhulu ababingeleli; aphume uye emfuleni wakwaBhen-hinom,” aze apho, emva kokuba elukhangele kwakhona ukreqo lwakwaYuda, aqhekeze ibe ziingceba “ingqayi,” aze avakalise emi endaweni kaYehova, awayengumkhonzi waKhe, athi, “Ndiya kwenjenje ukubaqhekeza aba bantu balo mzi, njengokuqhekezwa kwezitya zombumbi, ezingasenakubuya zingcitywe.” AN 431.2
Umprofeti wenza njengoko wayeyalelwe. Emva koko, akuba ebuyele esixekweni, wema entendelezweni yetempile wavakalisa ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi, uThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Yabonani, ndiwuzisela lo mzi, nemizi yawo yonke, bonke ububi endibuthethileyo ngawo; ngokuba beyenze lukhuni intamo yabo, ukuze bangawevi amazwi am.” Khangela kuYeremiya 19. AN 432.1
Amazwi omprofeti, endaweni yokuba akhokelele ekuvunyweni kwesono nasenguqukweni, asuka avusa umsindo kwabo basemagunyeni, kwaza kwalandela ukuhluthwa kukaYeremiya inkululeko yakhe. Evalelwe, wabekwa estokisini, umprofeti, sekunjalo, waqhubeka nokuzithetha izigidimi zeZulu kwabo babemi kufuphi. Ilizwi lakhe lalingenakho ukuthuliswa yintshutshiso. Ilizwi lenyaniso, wathi, “[langa] ngumlilo otshayo, uvalelwe emathanjeni am; ndadinwa kukunyamezela, andabanako.” Yeremiya 20:9. AN 432.2
Kwakungeli xesha awathi uYehova wayalela uYeremiya ukuba azibhale phantsi izigidimi awayelangazelela ukuzisa kwabo yayilulangazelelo lwentliziyo yakhe enovelwano ukusindiswa kwabo. “Thabathela kuwe incwadi esongwayo,” uYehova wayalela umkhonzi waKhe, uwabhale kuyo onke amazwi endawathetha kuwe ngamaIsrayeli, nangamaYuda, nangeentlanga zonke, kususela kwimini endathethayo kuwe, uthabathele emihleni kaYosiya, ude uze kule mini. Mhlawumbi indlu kaYuda ingabuphulaphula bonke ububi endicinga ukubenza kubo, ukuze babuye elowo endleleni yakhe embi, ndibuxolele ubugwenxa babo nesono sabo.” Yeremiya 36:2, 3. AN 432.3
Ukuthobela lo myalelo, uYeremiya wabizela kuye uncedo lomhlobo wakhe othembekileyo, uBharuki, umbhali, wambizela “onke amazwi kaYehova, awawathethayo kuye.” Indima 4. Aya abhalwa ngobunono encwadini esongwayo, ayinxalenye yokukhalima okunendili ngenxa yesono, isilumkiso sesiphumo esiqinisekileyo sokreqo oluthe ngcembe, nesibheno esinyanisekileyo sokuba kulahlwe bonke ububi. AN 433.1
Wathi wakuba ugqityiwe umbhalo, uYeremiya, owaye sengumbanjwa, wathumela uBharuki ukuba afunde incwadi esongiweyo kwizihlwele ezazihlanganisene etempileni kumnyhadala womhla wokuzila kwesizwe, “ngomnyaka wesihlanu kaYehoyakim unyana kaYosiya, ukumkani wakwaYuda, ngenyanga yesithoba.” “Mhlawumbi ukutarhuzisa kwabo kungawa phambi koYehova, babuye elowo endleleni yakhe embi; ngokuba mkhulu umsindo nobushushu, abuthethileyo uYehova ngaba bantu.” Iindima 9, 7. AN 433.2
UBharuki wathobela, yaza incwadi esongwayo yafundwa phambi kwabo bonke abantu bakwaYuda. Emva koko umbhali wamenyelwa phambi kwabathetheli ukuba awafunde phambi kwabo amazwi. Baphulaphula ngomdla omkhulu baza bathembisa ukuba baya kumxelela ukumkani ngako konke abakuvileyo, kodwa bamcebisa umbhali ukuba azifihle yena, kuba besoyikela ukuba ukumkani angabala ubungqina aze afune ukubabulala abo basilungisayo baza basifunda isigidimi. AN 433.3
Wathi akuxelelwa ukumkani uYehoyakim ngabathetheli oko bekufundwe nguBharuki, kwangoko wayalela ukuba iziswe phambi kwakhe incwadi esongwayo ifundwe esiva. Omnye wabasebenzi basebukumkanini, uYehudi ngegama, wayilanda incwadi esongwayo waqala ukuwafunda amazwi okungxolisa nokulumkisa. Kwakusebusika, ukumkani namaphakathi akhe ombuso, abathetheli bakwaYuda,bonkebengqonge izikoelivuthayo. Kwakusafundwe indawo encinane,xaukumkani, ekude le nokungcangcazela ngenxa yengozi eyayijinga phezu kwakhe kunye nabantu bakhe, wayithi hlasi incwadi esongwayo evutha ngumsindo “wayiqwenga ukumkani ngesitshetshe sombhali, wayiphosa emlilweni obuselukhambeni, yada yatsha yagqibela yonke incwadi esongwayo.” Indima 23. AN 434.1
Ukumkani kunye nabathetheli abazange boyike, abazikrazulanga iingubo zabo.” Babakho phofu abanye babathetheli “abambongozayo ukumkani . . . ukuba angayitshisi incwadi esongwayo, akabaphulaphula.” Wakuba utshatyalalisiwe umbhalo, ingqumbo kakumkani okhohlakeleyo yakhula ngakuYeremiya noBharuki, waza wathumela kwangoko ukuba baziswe kuye; Iindima 24-26.[434] AN 434.2
Ekuziseni kwingqwalaselo yabanquli basetempileni neyabathetheli kunye nekakumkani, iziyalo ezibhaliweyo encwadini esongwayo ephefumlelweyo, uThixo ngobabalo lwaKhe wayezama ukulumkisa abantu bakwaYuda ukwenzela ukulungelwa kwabo. “Mhlawumbi,” wathi, “indlu kaYuda ingabuphulaphula bonke ububi endicinga ukubenza kubo, ukuze babuye elowo endleleni yakhe embi, ndibuxolele ubugwenxa babo nesono sabo.” Indima 3. UThixo unovelwano ngabantu ababambene nobumfama bobugwenxa; ufuna ukukhanyisa ingqiqo ezenziwe mnyama ngokuthumela ukukhalima nezoyikiso ezilungiselwe ukwenza abona baphakame kakhulu ukuba bakuve ukuswela kwabo ulwazi baze bazithiye iimpazamo zabo. Uzama ukunceda abo banelisekileyo ukuba bangoneliswa lulonwabo olungamampunge nokuba bafune intsikelelo kamoya ngokuqhagamshelana ngokusondelene kakhulu nezulu. AN 435.1
Icebo likaThixo asikokuthuma abathunywa abaya kubakholisa babanyhwalaze aboni; akathumeli izigidimi zoxolo ukuze athomalalise abangengcwele ukuba bahlale kwinkuseleko yasenyameni. Endaweni yoko, ubeka imithwalo enzima phezu kwesazela somenzi wokungalungileyo awuhlabanisele umphefumlo ngeentolo zokuzigweba. Iingelosi ezilungiselelayo zibeka phambi kwakhe izigwebo ezoyikekayo zikaThixo, ukuze ziyenze ingene nzulu engqondweni intswelo kuze kubekho isikhalo esibonisa ubuhlungu, esithi, “Ndimelwe kukuthini na, ukuze ndisindiswe?” IZenzo 16:30. Sona isandla esithobela eluthulini, sikhalimele isono, size silihlazise ikratshi nokuthanda ukudunyiswa, sikwasisandla esimphakamisayo lowo uzohlwayayo, nobethiweyo. Ngovelwano olukhulu, Lowo uvumela ukuba isohlwayo sifike, uyabuza, “Unga ndingenza ntoni kuwe?” AN 435.2
Akuba umntu onile ngakuThixoongcwelenonenceba,ayikho indlela anokuyilandela ephucukileyo njengokuguquka ngokwenene, nokuvuma iziphoso zakhe ekwiinyembezi nobukrakra bomphefumlo. Ulindele oku uThixo kuye; akamkeli nto ingaphantsi kwentliziyo eyaphukileyo nomoya otyumkileyo. Yena ukumkani uYehoyakim namadoda amakhulu akhe, ekungazini nakwikratshi labo, basala isimemo sikaThixo. Abazange basiphulaphule isilumkiso, baze baguquke. Ithuba lenceba elabekwa phambi kwabo ngexesha lokutshiswa kwencwadi esongwayo, lalilelokugqibela. UThixo wayevakalise ukuthi, ukuba ngeliya xesha balile ukuliva ilizwi laKhe, uya kuhlisa phezu kwabo imbuyekezo eyoyikekayo. Bala ukuva, waza wavakalisa izigwebo zaKhe zokugqibela phezu kukaYuda, kwaye eza kuzisa ingqumbo eyodwa kwindoda ethe yaziphakamisa ngekratshi ukuchasa Onamandla onke. AN 436.1
“Ngako oko, utsho uYehova ngokusingisele kuYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda, ukuthi, akuyi kubakho bani wakwakhe kuye, uhlalayo etroneni kaDavide; isidumbu sakhe siya kulahlelwa ebushushwini belanga emini, naseqabakeni ebusuku. Ndiya kumvelela yena, nembewu yakhe, nabakhonzi bakhe, ngobugwenxa babo; ndibuzisele bona, nabemi baseYerusalem, namadoda akwaYuda, bonke ububi endabuthethayo kubo.” Yeremiya 36:30, 31. AN 436.2
Ukutshiswa kwencwadi esongwayo kwakungekuko ukuphela komcimbi. Amazwi abhaliweyo kungalula ukuwalahla kunokukhalinyelwa nokulunyukiswa okwakukuyo kwakunye nesohlwayo esiza kufika ngokukhawuleza uThixo awayesivakalisile ngakuIsrayeli ovukeleyo. Phofu, nencwadi leyo isongwayo, yaphinda yenziwa. “Buya, uthabathe enye incwadi esongwayo,” wamyalela uYehova umkhonzi waKhe, “ubhalekuyoonkeamazwiokuqala, awayitshisayo uYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda.” Ingxelo yeziprofetoezingoYudaneYerusalem zenziwazabaluthuthu; kodwa amazwi ayesahleli entliziyweni kaYeremiya, “[e]ngumlilo otshayo,” waza umprofeti wavunyelwa ukuba akuphinde oko ingqumbo yomntu ibicinga ukuba ikutshabalalisile. AN 436.3
Akuba eyithabathile enye incwadi esongwayo, uYeremiya wayinika uBharuki, “[owabhala” kuyo, ephuma emlonyeni kaYeremiya, onke amazwi encwadi awayitshisayo uYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda ngomlilo. Kongezelelwa kuwo amazwi amaninzi, anjengawo.” Iindima 28, 32. Ingqumbo yomntu yayizame ukuthintela imisebenzi enzima yomprofeti kaThixo; kodwa yona le ndlela kanye uYehoyakim wazama ngayo ukunqanda impembelelo yomkhonzi kaYehova, yanika ithuba elongeziweyo lokwenza kucace oko kufunwa lizulu. AN 437.1
Umoya wokuchasa ukukhalinyelwa, owakhokelela ekutshutshisweni nasekuvalelweni entolongweni kukaYeremiya, usekho nanamhla oku. Baninzi abakwalayo ukuphulaphula izilumkiso eziphindaphindwayo, bekhetha endaweni yoko ukumamela iititshala zobuxoki ezibakhohlisayo ukungabinto kwabo zingakunaki ukwenza kwabo ububi. Ngemini yembandezelo abanjalo abasayi kuba nalo igwiba eliqinisekileyo, bangabi nalo noncedo oluphuma ezulwini. Abakhonzi bakaThixo abanyuliweyo baya kuzihlangabeza ngesibindi nomonde izilingo nokuphatheka kakubi okuza kubo ngokungcikivwa, ukungakhathalelwa, nokutyholwa. Baya kuqhubeka nokuwenza ngokuthembeka umsebenzi uThixo abanike ukuba bawenze, basoloko bekhumbula ukuba abaprofeti bakudala noMsindisi woluntu kunye nabapostile nabo banyamezela ukuphathwa kakubi nokutshutshiswa ngenxa yeLizwi. AN 437.2
Yayiyinjongo kaThixo ukuba uYehoyakim awaphulaphule amacebiso kaYeremiya aze ngoko akuzuze ukuthandeka kuNebhukadenetsare, khon’ ukuze azisindise kusizi olukhulu. Ukumkani oselula, wayefungele ukuzayamisa kumlawuli waseBhabheli, kwaye, ukuba wayeye wahlala enyanisekile kwisithembiso sakhe, ngewahlonitshwa ziintlanga, kuze oku kukhokelele kumathuba abalulekileyo okuguquka kwemiphefumlo. AN 438.1
Ngokudelela amalungelo angaqhelekanga awayewanikwa, ukumkani wakwaYuda wakhetha ukulandela ngokuthanda kwakhe indlela azinyulele yona. Walaphula ilizwi elibekekileyo kukumkani waseBhabheli, wavukela. Oku kwambeka yena nobukumkani bakhe kwindawo emxinwa. Ukumchasa, kwathunyelwa “izimpi zamaKaledi, nezimpi zama-Aram, nezimpi zakwaMowabhi, zezimpi zoonyana baka-Amon,” akabi nawo amandla okulikhusela ilizwe ekubhukuqweni ngaba baphangi. 2 Kumkani 24:2. Ngeminyaka nje embalwa waluvala ulawulo lwakhe olwalunengozi ngehlazo, limalile iZulu, engathandwa ngabantu bakhe, edelelwa ngabalawuli baseBhabheli awabaphoxayo—konke kusisiphumo sempazamo yakhe ebulalayo yokusuka kwinjongo kaThixo eyayityhilwe ngomthunywa waKhe amnyulileyo. AN 438.2
UYehoyakin, [ekwaziwa ngokuba nguYekoniya, noKoniyahu], unyana kaYehoyakim, waya wahlala etroneni iinyanga ezineentsuku ezilishumi kuphela, xa wayexhoma izandla kwimikhosi yamaKhaledi eyathi, ngenxa yovukelo lomlawuli wakwaYuda, yaphinda yasingqinga isixeko esiseshweni. Ngeli ixesha, uNebhukadenetsare “wamfudusa uYehoyakin wamsa eBhabheli, nonina wokumkani, nabafazi bokumkani, nababusi bakhe, neenjengele zelizwe,” amawaka aliqela ngokwenani, kunye neengcibi nabakhandi abaliwaka.” Kunye naba, ukumkani waseBhabheli wathabatha “bonke ubuncwane bendlu kaYehova, nobuncwane bendlu yokumkani.” 2 Kumkani 24:15, 16, 13. AN 438.3
Ubukumkani bakwaYuda, bophukile emandleni, buhluthwe ukomelela ngabantu nangobuncwane, noko kunjalo, bavunyelwa ukuba bume njengolawulo olwahlukileyo. Phezulu kubo uNebhukadenetsare wabeka uMataniya, unyana omncinane kaYosiya, awamguqula igama languZedekiya. AN 439.1