Isahluko Samashumi Amabini Anesithoba

Ukuvuzwa Kokholo Lukakumkani

Isaya 36:1–39:8

1, 2. UHezekiya wangqineka njani engukumkani olunge ngakumbi kunoAhazi?

 UHEZEKIYA wayaneminyaka engama-25 ubudala ekuqaliseni kwakhe ukuba ngukumkani wakwaYuda. Wayeza kuba ngumlawuli onjani? Ngaba wayeza kulandela ekhondweni likayise, uKumkani uAhazi, aze awexulele abalawulwa bakhe ekulandeleni oothixo bobuxoki? Okanye ngaba wayeza kubakhokelela abantu kunqulo lukaYehova, njengoko wenzayo ukhokho wakhe uKumkani uDavide?—2 Kumkani 16:2.

² Kamsinya nje akuba uHezekiya ebekwe etroneni, kwacaca ukuba wayenenjongo “[yokwenza] oko kulungileyo emehlweni kaYehova.” (2 Kumkani 18:2, 3) Kunyaka wakhe wokuqala, wayalela ukuba kulungiswe itempile kaYehova kuze kuqhutyekwe neenkonzo zasetempileni. (2 Kronike 29:3, 7, 11) Wandula ke wenza isibhadlalala somsitho wePasika awamemela kuso uhlanga luphela—kuquka izizwe ezilishumi zasentla zakwaSirayeli. Sidlo sakwabani sona ukuba sikhulu! Asizange sibekho esinjengaso ukususela ngemihla kaKumkani uSolomon.—2 Kronike 30:1, 25, 26.

 3. (a) Liliphi inyathelo elathatyathwa ngabemi bakwaSirayeli nabakwaYuda ababekho kwiPasika eyalungiselelwa nguHezekiya? (b) Yintoni ayifundayo amaKristu namhlanje kwisenzo sokuzimisela esenziwa ngabo babekho ePasikeni?

³ Ekupheleni komsitho wePasika, abo babekho kuwo bashukunyiselwa ekubeni bazigawule izibonda ezingcwele, bazaphule iintsika ezingcwele, bazidilize neendawo eziphakamileyo  kwanezibingelelo zoothixo babo bobuxoki, bandula ke babuyela ezixekweni zabo, bezimisele ukukhonza uThixo wokwenyaniso. (2 Kronike 31:1) Olunjani lona utshintsho kwisimo sabo sengqondo sonqulo sangaphambili! AmaKristu okwenyaniso anokufunda koku ukubaluleka ‘kokungakutyesheli ukuhlanganisana kwawo ndawonye.’ Ngokuhlanganisana kwabo emabandleni asekuhlaleni okanye kwiindibano ezinkulu, abazalwana bayakhuthazana yaye bashukunyiselwa nangumoya kaThixo ekubeni ‘bavuselelane eluthandweni nasemisebenzini emihle.’—Hebhere 10:23-25.

Ukuvavanywa Kokholo

4, 5. (a) UHezekiya ubonise njani ukuba akaxhomekekanga kwiAsiriya? (b) Ngawaphi amanyathelo okuhlasela uYuda athatyathwe nguSenaribhe, yaye yintoni eyenziwa nguHezekiya ukuze athintele ukuhlaselwa kweYerusalem ngequbuliso? (c) Ngawaphi amalungiselelo enziwa nguHezekiya okukhusela iYerusalem kuma-Asiriya?

⁴ IYerusalem isalindelwe zizilingo ezinzulu ngaphambili. UHezekiya uluphelisile umanyano uyise ongenalukholo, uAhazi, awayelwakhe nama-Asiriya. Ude wahlasela namaFilisti, azimanye neAsiriya. (2 Kumkani 18:7, 8) Oku kuye kwamqumbisa ukumkani waseAsiriya. Ngenxa yoko, sifunda ukuba: “Kwathi ngonyaka weshumi elinesine kaKumkani  uHezekiya uSenaribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya wenyuka nxamnye nazo zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaYuda waza wazithimba.” (Isaya 36:1) Mhlawumbi ngelinge lokuzama ukukhusela iYerusalem ekuhlaselweni ngequbuliso ngumkhosi okhohlakeleyo wama-Asiriya, uHezekiya uyavuma ukuhlawula uSenaribhe intlawulo enkulu yama-300 eetalente zesilivere nama-30 eetalente zegolide. a—2 Kumkani 18:14.

⁵ Ekubeni kungekho golide yaneleyo kwindlu yobuncwane yasebukhosini yokuhlawula le ntlawulo, uHezekiya uthabatha amatye anqabileyo anokuwafumana etempileni. Unqumla neengcango zetempile, ezigqunywe ngegolide, aze azithumele kuSenaribhe. Oku kuyawanelisa ama-Asiriya, kodwa okwethutyana nje. (2 Kumkani 18:15, 16) Kubonakala ukuba, uHezekiya uyaqonda ukuba ama-Asiriya akazukuyiyeka thuba lide iYerusalem. Ngoko ke, benza amalungiselelo. Baye bayivala imithombo yamanzi ukuze ama-Asiriya angabi namanzi xa ebahlasela. Kwakhona uHezekiya uyaziqinisa iinqaba zaseYerusalem aze afumbe izixhobo zemfazwe, kuquka “imijukujelwa emininzi namakhaka.”—2 Kronike 32:4, 5.

 6. UHezekiya ukholosa ngabani?

⁶ Noko ke, uHezekiya akakholosanga ngamacebo akhe obuchule emfazwe okanye ngeenqaba zakhe, kodwa ukholose ngoYehova wemikhosi. Uzibongoza athi iinkosi zakhe zemfazwe: “Yibani nesibindi nize nomelele. Musani ukoyika okanye ninkwantye ngenxa kakumkani waseAsiriya naso sonke isihlwele anaso; kuba esinabo baninzi kakhulu kunabo bakunye naye. Abakunye naye yingalo yenyama, kodwa thina sinoYehova uThixo wethu ukuba asincede asilwele amadabi ethu.” Basabela abantu, baza “baxhathisa ngenxa yamazwi kaHezekiya ukumkani wakwaYuda.” (2 Kronike 32:7, 8) Khawube nombono weziganeko ezichulumancisayo  ezilandelayo njengoko sihlolisisa isahluko 36 ukusa kwesama-39 sesiprofeto sikaIsaya.

URabheshake Ubaphethel’ Imbengwane

 7. Ngubani uRabheshake, yaye kutheni ethunyelwa eYerusalem?

⁷ USenaribhe uthumela eYerusalem uRabheshake (eli ligama lasebukhosini, kungekhona igama lakhe lobuqu) kunye nezinye iziphathamandla ezibini ukuba ziboyisele ekubeni basinikezele eso sixeko. (2 Kumkani 18:17) Bona bahlangatyezwa ngaphandle kodonga lwesixeko ngabameli abathathu bakaHezekiya, uEliyakim ongumongameli wendlu kaHezekiya, uShebhena ongunobhala, noYowa unyana ka-Asafu ongumgcini wengxelo.—Isaya 36:2, 3.

 8. URabheshake uzama njani ukuyethisa amandla iYerusalem?

⁸ Injongo kaRabheshake inye nje—kukoyisela iYerusalem ukuba inikezele ngaphandle kokulwa. Ethetha ngesiHebhere, uqala ngokudanduluka athi: “Uthembele ngantoni na? . . . Ukholose ngabani na, njengokuba undivukele nje?” (Isaya 36:4, 5) Ukusuk’ apho uRabheshake uyawagculela la maYuda angenwe luloyiko, ewakhumbuza ukuba akanabani wakuwancedisa. Ngubani oza kuba yintonga yawo esekhosi? Ngaba yiYiputa, efana nje ‘nengcongolo etyumkileyo’? (Isaya 36:6) Iz’ be ke nyani ngelo xesha, iYiputa ebikade iligunya lehlabathi ibifana nje nengcongolo etyumkileyo; iye yoyiswa okwethutyana yiTiyopiya, kangangokuba noFaro waseYiputa, uKumkani uTiraka, akangomYiputa kodwa ngumTiyopiya. Yaye naye sele eza koyiswa yiAsiriya. (2 Kumkani 19:8, 9) Ekubeni iYiputa ingenakuzisindisa yona ngokwayo, ayinakumnceda nganto uYuda.

 9. Yintoni ekubonakala ukuba ikhokelela uRabheshake ekubeni agqibe ngelithi uYehova uza kubalahla abantu Bakhe, kodwa eneneni yintoni abaye bayenza?

⁹ Ngoku uRabheshake uma ngelithi uYehova akazukubalwela abantu Bakhe kuba akakholiswanga ngabo. Uthi uRabheshake: “Ukuba kunokwenzeka uthi kum, ‘Sikholose ngoYehova  uThixo wethu,’ asinguye na lowo uHezekiya ashenxise iindawo zakhe eziphakamileyo nezibingelelo zakhe.” (Isaya 36:7) Kambe ke, kunokuba amaYuda amgatye uYehova ngokudiliza kwawo iindawo eziphakamileyo nezibingelelo elizweni, aye eneneni abuyela kuYehova.

10. Kutheni bungenzi mahluko nje ubukhulu okanye ubuncinane bomkhosi kaYuda?

¹⁰ Wandula uRabheshake awakhumbuze amaYuda ukuba umkhosi wawo awuyonto xa uthelekiswa nowakhe. Uwacel’ umngeni ngekratshi esithi: “Ndokunika amawaka amabini amahashe ukuze sibone enoba unganako na ukubeka abakhweli kuwo.” (Isaya 36:8) Phofu ke, ngaba ngenene benza umahluko na ubukhulu okanye ubuncinane bomkhosi wamahashe kaYuda? Akunjalo, kuba usindiso lukaYuda aluxhomekekanga kubukhulu bamandla omkhosi wakhe. IMizekeliso 21:31 icacisa ngelithi: “Ihashe lilungiselelwa imini yedabi, kodwa usindiso lolukaYehova.” Kwakhona uRabheshake uthi uYehova usikelela ama-Asiriya, kungekhona amaYuda. Atsho esithi, ukuba bekungenjalo ama-Asiriya ngengakwazanga ukugqobhozela angene kummandla kaYuda.—Isaya 36:9, 10.

11, 12. (a) Kutheni uRabheshake ezingisa nje ukuthetha “ngolwimi lwamaYuda,” yaye uzama njani ukuhenda amaYuda aphulaphuleyo? (b) Amazwi kaRabheshake asenokuwachaphazela njani amaYuda?

¹¹ Abameli bakaHezekiya baxhalabele ukuba ezi ntetho zikaRabheshake zingawawexula amadoda amvayo ahleli phezu kodonga lwesixeko. Ngoko la magosa amaYuda ayamcela, esithi: “Khawuncede, uthethe kubakhonzi bakho ngolwimi lwaseSiriya, kuba siphulaphule; ungathethi kuthi ngolwimi lwamaYuda ezindlebeni zabantu abaseludongeni.” (Isaya 36:11) Kodwa uRabheshake akazimiselanga tu ukuthetha ngolwimi lwaseSiriya. Ufuna ukuba amaYuda athandabuze aze oyike ukuze anikezele, ize iYerusalem yoyiswe ngaphandle kokulwa! (Isaya 36:12) Ngenxa yoko lo mAsiriya uyaqhubeka ethetha “ngolwimi lwamaYuda.” Ubalumkisa ngelithi abemi  baseYerusalem: “Ningamvumeli uHezekiya anikhohlise, kuba akanako ukunihlangula.” Emva koku, uzama ukubalinga abo baphulaphuleyo ngokubanika umfanekiso-ngqondweni wendlela amaYuda anokuphila ngayo phantsi kolawulo lwama-Asiriya, esithi: “Nikezela uze kum nize nidle ngamnye kumdiliya wakhe nakumkhiwane wakhe nize nisele amanzi ngamnye equleni lakhe, ndide ndifike ndinithabathele kwilizwe elinjengelizwe lenu, ilizwe lokudla okuziinkozo newayini entsha, ilizwe lesonka nezidiliya.”—Isaya 36:13-17.

¹² AmaYuda akazukuba nasivuno kulo nyaka—ukuhlaselwa kwawo ngama-Asiriya kuye kwawaphazamisa akakwazi ukulima. Ithemba lokutya iidiliya ezinencindi nelokusela amanzi abandayo limel’ ukuba linomtsalane kakhulu kumadoda aphulaphuleyo aseludongeni. Kodwa uRabheshake akakagqibi ukuwatheza amandla amaYuda.

13, 14. Phezu kwako nje ukucelw’ umngeni nguRabheshake, kutheni oko kwenzeka kwiSamariya kungasebenzi kwimeko kaYuda?

¹³ Kwimigudu yakhe yokuwapheka ewophula, ngoku uRabheshake uzama qhinga limbi. Ulumkisa amaYuda ukuba angamkholelwa uHezekiya ukuba unokuthi: “UYehova uya kusihlangula.” URabheshake ukhumbuza amaYuda ukuba oothixo bamaSamariya abakwazanga ukukhusela izizwe ezilishumi ukuba zingoyiswa ngama-Asiriya. Yaye kuthekani ngoothixo bezinye iintlanga ezoyiswe yiAsiriya? Ezingomb’ isifuba uthi: “Baphi na oothixo baseHamati neArpadi? Baphi na oothixo baseSefarvayim? Baye bayihlangula na iSamariya esandleni sam?”—Isaya 36:18-20.

¹⁴ Phofu ke, uRabheshake, ongumnquli woothixo bobuxoki, akaqondi ukuba kukho umahluko omkhulu phakathi kweSamariya ewexukileyo kunye neYerusalem ephantsi kolawulo lukaHezekiya. Oothixo bobuxoki baseSamariya babengenamandla okusindisa ubukhosi bezizwe ezilishumi. (2 Kumkani 17:7, 17, 18) Kwelinye icala, iYerusalem phantsi kolawulo lukaHezekiya ibanikele umva oothixo bobuxoki yaza yabuyela ekukhonzeni uYehova. Noko ke, abameli abathathu bamaYuda  abazidubi ngokukuchaza oko kuRabheshake. “Bathi cwaka, abaphendula, kuba umyalelo kakumkani wawusithi: ‘Nize ningamphenduli.’” (Isaya 36:21) UEliyakim, uShebhena noYowa babuyela kuHezekiya baze bamchazele ngokusesikweni amazwi kaRabheshake.—Isaya 36:22.

UHezekiya Wenza Isigqibo

15. (a) Sisiphi isigqibo ajamelene naso ngoku uHezekiya? (b) UYehova ubaqinisekisa njani abantu bakhe?

¹⁵ Ngoku uKumkani uHezekiya umele enze isigqibo. Ngaba uza kuyinikela iYerusalem kuma-Asiriya? ngaba uza kumanyana neYiputa? okanye ngaba uza kuba nenkalipho aze alwe? Ingqondo kaHezekiya ithath’ ibeka. Uya etempileni kaYehova, aze kwangaxeshanye athume uEliyakim noShebhena, namadoda amakhulu ababingeleli, ukuba baye kubuzisa  kuYehova ngomprofeti uIsaya. (Isaya 37:1, 2) Aba bameli bakakumkani bafika kuIsaya benxibe amarhonya, baze bathi: “Le mini yimini yokubandezeleka nokhalimelo nokugculela kokusa . . . Mhlawumbi uYehova uThixo wakho uya kuweva amazwi kaRabheshake, lowo ukumkani waseAsiriya inkosi yakhe yamthumela ukuba angcikive uThixo ophilayo, yaye uya kumphendulisa ngamazwi awavileyo uYehova uThixo wakho.” (Isaya 37:3-5) Ewe, ama-Asiriya acel’ umngeni uThixo ophilayo! Ngaba uYehova uza kunikel’ ingqalelo kungcikivo lwawo? Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova uyawaqinisekisa amaYuda, esithi: “Ningoyiki ngenxa yamazwi eniwavileyo, abawathethileyo abalindi bakakumkani waseAsiriya benditshabhisa. Yabona, ndifaka umoya kuye, ukuba eve ingxelo aze abuyele kwilizwe lakhe; yaye ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kumbangela ukuba awe ngekrele kwilizwe lakhe.”—Isaya 37:6, 7.

16. Hlobo luni lweeleta ezithunyelwa nguSenaribhe?

 ¹⁶ Ebudeni belo thuba, uRabheshake uyabizwa ukuba aye kuncedisa ukumkani uSenaribhe ekulweni neLibhena. USenaribhe uza kuphinda ayihlasele kamva iYerusalem. (Isaya 37:8) Sekunjalo, ukumka kukaRabheshake akumziseli siqabu uHezekiya. USenaribhe uthumela iileta ezisongelayo ezichaza oko abemi baseYerusalem banokukulindela ukuba bayala ukunikezela, esithi: “Ukuvile oko ookumkani baseAsiriya bakwenzayo kuwo onke amazwe ngokuwatshabalalisa, uya kuhlangulwa na wena? Ngaba oothixo beentlanga ezonakaliswa ngookhokho bam bazihlangula na? . . . Uphi na ukumkani waseHamati nokumkani waseArpadi nokumkani wesixeko saseSefarvayim—waseHena nowaseIva?” (Isaya 37:9-13) Lilonke, lo mAsiriya uthi akukho ngqiqweni ukuxhathisa—kuya kufana nje nokuzinqikela ilitye elineembovane!

17, 18. (a) Yintoni eshukumisela uHezekiya ekubeni acele inkuselo kaYehova? (b) UYehova uyiphendula njani iAsiriya esebenzisa uIsaya?

¹⁷ Eyixhalabele ngokunzulu imiphumo yesigqibo amele asenze, uHezekiya uzandlala phambi kukaYehova etempileni iileta zikaSenaribhe. (Isaya 37:14) Ubongoza uYehova ngomthandazo osuk’ entliziyweni ukuba anikel’ ingqalelo kwizisongelo zeAsiriya, aze awuqukumbele umthandazo wakhe ngamazwi athi: “Ke kaloku, Yehova Thixo wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe, ukuze zonke izikumkani zomhlaba zazi ukuba wena, Yehova, nguwe wedwa uThixo.” (Isaya 37:15-20) Oku kubonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba eyona nto uHezekiya ayixhalabele ngokuyintloko, asikokuhlangulwa kwakhe, kodwa lugculelo oluya kuziswa egameni likaYehova ukuba iAsiriya iyayoyisa iYerusalem.

¹⁸ UYehova usebenzisa uIsaya ekuphenduleni umthandazo kaHezekiya. Uthi iYerusalem mayinganikezeli kwiAsiriya; mayime nkqi ngenkalipho. Ebhekisa kuSenaribhe, uIsaya usidlulisela ngenkalipho isigidimi sikaYehova esiya kwiAsiriya, esithi: “Intombi enyulu yaseZiyon ikudelile, ikugculele. Intombi yaseYerusalem iye yahlunguzela intloko emva  kwakho [ikugculela].” (Isaya 37:21, 22) Ngokungathi kunjalo, wandula uYehova ongezelele athi: ‘Xa ubungubani wena ukuba ungade ungcikive Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli? Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho. Unamabhongo amakhulu; uqhayisa kakhulu. Ukholose ngezixhobo zakho zemfazwe waza woyisa amazwe amaninzi. Kodwa nawe uza koyiswa. Ndiza kuwatshitshisa amacebo akho. Ndiza kukoyisa. Ndandule ke ndenze kuwe njengoko wenzile kwabanye. Ndiza kufaka igwegwe empumlweni yakho ndize ndikubuyisele eAsiriya!’—Isaya 37:23-29.

“Nguwo Lo Umqondiso Kuwe”

19. Nguwuphi umqondiso uYehova awunika uHezekiya, yaye uthetha ukuthini?

¹⁹ Sisiphi isiqinisekiso anaso uHezekiya sokuba isiprofeto sikaIsaya siza kuzaliseka? UYehova uyaphendula, esithi: “Nguwo lo umqondiso kuwe: Kulo nyaka kuya kudliwa ummilela, ngonyaka wesibini isihlabane; kodwa ngonyaka wesithathu nohlwayela imbewu, nivune, nityale izidiliya nize nidle iziqhamo zazo.” (Isaya 37:30) UYehova uza kuwanika ukutya la maYuda avalelekileyo. Nangona engakwazi ukutyala imbewu ngenxa yokuxinwa ngama-Asiriya, aza kudla ngokubhikica isivuno sanyakenye. Ngonyaka olandelayo, unyaka wesabatha, amele awayeke amasimi abe lifusi, nangona exinezelekile. (Eksodus 23:11) UYehova uthembisa ukuthi ukuba aba bantu bayaliphulaphula ilizwi lakhe, aya kuchuma amasimi abo abe nokudla okuziinkozo okwaneleyo kokubondla. Kwandule ke, ngonyaka olandelayo, bahlwayele imbewu njengesiqhelo baze banandiphe isiqhamo somsebenzi wabo.

20. Kungayiphi indlela abathi abo basindileyo ekuhlaseleni kweAsiriya ‘bamile ingcambu phantsi baze bavelise isiqhamo phezulu’?

²⁰ Ngoku uYehova uthelekisa abantu bakhe nesityalo esingenakuncothulwa lula, esithi: “Abo basindileyo bendlu kaYuda . . . ngokuqinisekileyo baya kumila ingcambu phantsi baze bavelise isiqhamo phezulu.” (Isaya 37:31, 32) Ewe, abo bakholose ngoYehova aboyiki nto. Bona nenzala yabo baya kuhlala beqinile elizweni.

21, 22. (a) Kuprofetwe kwathiwani ngoSenaribhe? (b) Azaliseka njani yaye nini amazwi kaYehova ngoSenaribhe?

 ²¹ Kuthekani ngezisongelo zeAsiriya nxamnye neYerusalem? UYehova uphendula athi: “Akayi kungena kwesi sixeko, engayi kutola notolo apho, okanye eze enekhaka, okanye asibiyele ngomsele wokungqinga. Uya kubuya ngendlela eze ngayo, yaye akayi kungena kwesi sixeko.” (Isaya 37:33, 34) Lilonke, akukho dabi liza kuliwa yiAsiriya neYerusalem. Yaye ngokumangalisayo, ngama-Asiriya, kungekhona amaYuda, aza koyiswa ngaphandle kokulwa.

 ²² Kanye njengoko ebetshilo, uYehova uthumela isithunywa ukuba sixabele amalungu aphambili omkhosi kaSenaribhe—amadoda ali-185 000. Kubonakala ukuba oku kwenzeka eLibhena, yaye ekuvukeni kwakhe uSenaribhe ubona iinkokeli, neenkosana, kwanamadoda omeleleyo omkhosi wakhe equngquluzile. Efile ziintloni, ubuyela eNineve, kodwa phezu kwako nje ukoyiswa kwakhe, uqhubeka ezinikele ngenkani kuthixo wakhe wobuxoki uNiseroki. Kwiminyaka ethile kamva, ngoxa wayenqula etempileni kaNiseroki, uSenaribhe ugwintwa ngoonyana bakhe ababini. Kwakhona, loo Niseroki ongaphiliyo ungqineka engenamandla okumsindisa.—Isaya 37:35-38.

Ukholo LukaHezekiya Lomelezwa Ngakumbi

23. Yiyiphi imeko emaxongo ajamelana nayo uHezekiya ngethuba lokuhlasela kukaSenaribhe okokuqala uYuda, yaye yintoni eyona nto imxhalabisayo ngale meko akuyo?

²³ Ngethuba uSenaribhe ehlasela uYuda okokuqala, uHezekiya ugulel’ ukufa. UIsaya umxelela ukuba uza kufa. (Isaya 38:1) Lo kumkani onama-39 eminyaka ubudala udandatheke kakhulu. Akaxhalabelanga impilo yakhe kuphela kodwa kwanekamva labantu. IYerusalem nelakwaYuda zisengozini yokuhlaselwa ngama-Asiriya. Ukuba uHezekiya uyafa, ngubani oza kukhokela emfazweni? Ngelo xesha, uHezekiya ebengenanyana wokungena esihlalweni sokulawula. Ngoko uHezekiya uthandaza ngokunzulu ebongoza uYehova ukuba amenzele inceba.—Isaya 38:2, 3.

24, 25. (a) UYehova uwuphendula njani ngenceba umthandazo kaHezekiya? (b) Nguwuphi ummangaliso awenzayo uYehova, njengoko uchazwe kuIsaya 38:7, 8?

²⁴ Uthe uIsaya engekemki kwiintendelezo zebhotwe, uYehova wamthuma kwakhona ukuba abuyele kulo kumkani ulele ngandletyana-nye aze adlulisele esinye isigidimi esithi: “Ndiwuvile umthandazo wakho. Ndizibonile iinyembezi zakho. Yabona, ndiya kongezelela kwimihla yakho iminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu; nasentendeni kakumkani waseAsiriya ndiya  kukuhlangula wena nesi sixeko, kwaye ndiya kusikhusela esi sixeko.” (Isaya 38:4-6; 2 Kumkani 20:4, 5) UYehova uza kusiqinisekisa isithembiso sakhe ngomqondiso ongaqhelekanga: “Yabona, ndisibuyisela emva isithunzi sezinyuko esehlayo ngezinyuko zika-Ahazi ngelanga izinyuko ezilishumi.”—Isaya 38:7, 8a.

²⁵ Ngokutsho kombhali-mbali ongumYuda uJosephus, kwakukho izinyuko ngaphakathi kwibhotwe lasebukhosini, mhlawumbi nentsika ecaleni kwazo. Xa imitha yelanga ingqamene naloo ntsika, kwakubakho isithunzi kwezo zinyuko. Ixesha lalinokubonwa ngokujonga ukuhamba kwesithunzi kwezo zinyuko. Ngoku uYehova uza kwenza ummangaliso. Emva kokwehla kwesithunzi kwezo zinyuko njengesiqhelo, siza kuphinda sibuye umva sinyuke izinyuko ezilishumi. Wakha wayiva phi intw’ enjalo? IBhayibhile ithi: “Yaye ilanga labuya umva izinyuko ezilishumi kwizinyuko elalizihlile.” (Isaya 38:8b) Kungekudala emva koko, uHezekiya uye waphila kwisigulo sakhe. Ezo ndaba zisasazeke zaya kufikelela naseBhabhiloni. Uthe akukuva oko ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, wathumela abathunywa eYerusalem ukuba baye kukusabela oku.

26. Yintoni ebe ngumphumo wokwandiswa kobomi bukaHezekiya?

²⁶ Malunga neminyaka emithathu emva kokuchacha kukaHezekiya ngokungummangaliso, kuzalwa unyana wakhe wokuqala, uManase. Ekukhuleni kwakhe uManase, akabonisi luxabiso ngemfesane kaThixo, nakubeni ngengazalwanga ngaphandle kwayo! Kunoko, phantse ebudeni babo bonke ubomi bakhe, uManase wenza okubi ngokugqithiseleyo emehlweni kaYehova.—2 Kronike 32:24; 33:1-6.

Ukwenza Isigqibo Esiphosakeleyo

27. UHezekiya ulubonisa ngaziphi iindlela uxabiso ngoYehova?

²⁷ Njengokhokho wakhe uDavide, naye uHezekile uyindoda yokholo. Uyalixabisa iLizwi likaThixo. Ngokutsho kweMizekeliso 25:1, nguye owaqokelela inkcazelo efumaneka kwiMizekeliso isahluko 25 ukusa kwesama-29. Abanye bakholelwa  ukuba wabhala neNdumiso ye-119. Ingoma echukumisayo yombulelo ayibhalayo uHezekiya emva kokuchacha kwakhe ibonisa ukuba uyindoda eneemvakalelo ezinzulu. Ugqiba ngelithi eyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini kukuzukisa uYehova etempileni Yakhe “yonke imihla yobomi bethu.” (Isaya 38:9-20) Kwanga sonke singavakalelwa ngendlela efanayo ngonqulo olunyulu!

28. Yiyiphi impazamo ayenzayo uHezekiya ngaxa lithile emva kokuphiliswa kwakhe ngokungummangaliso?

²⁸ Nangona uHezekiya ethembekile, akafezekanga. Wenza impazamo enkulu ngaxa lithile emva kokuba uYehova emphilisile. UIsaya ucacisa esithi: “Ngelo xesha uMerodaki-bhaladan unyana kaBhaladan ukumkani waseBhabhiloni wathumela iincwadi nesipho kuHezekiya, emva kokuba evile ukuba wayegula kodwa wayephinde womelela. Ngoko uHezekiya waba nemihlali ngabo waza wababonisa indlu yakhe yobuncwane, isilivere negolide neoli yebhalsam neoli elungileyo nayo yonke indawo yakhe yokugcina izikrweqe nako konke okwafumanekayo kubuncwane bakhe. Akubangakho nto angababonisanga yona uHezekiya endlwini yakhe nakulo lonke ulawulo lwakhe.”—Isaya 39:1, 2. b

29. (a) Yintoni esenokuba ishukumisela uHezekiya ekubeni abonise abathunywa bamaBhabhiloni ubutyebi bakhe? (b) Iza kuba yintoni imiphumo yempazamo kaHezekiya?

²⁹ Kwanasemva kokuphanziswa kwayo yingelosi kaYehova, iAsiriya isaqhubeka isongela iintlanga ezininzi, kuquka iBhabhiloni. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uHezekiya wayefuna ukweyisela ukumkani waseBhabhiloni ekubeni akhe umanyano kunye naye kwixesha elizayo. Noko ke, uYehova akafuni ukuba  abemi bakwaYuda bazimanye neentshaba zabo; ufuna bakholose ngaye! Esebenzisa umprofeti uIsaya, uYehova utyhilela uHezekiya ngoko kuza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo, esithi: “Kuza imihla, ekuya kuthi ngayo konke okusendlwini yakho noko kwaqwetywa ngookhokho bakho ukuza kuthi ga kule mini kuthwalelwe eBhabhiloni. Akukho nto iya kusala . . . Yaye abanye boonyana bakho abaya kuphuma kuwe, abo uya kubazala, baya kuthatyathwa baze babe ngamagosa enkundla kwibhotwe likakumkani waseBhabhiloni.” (Isaya 39:3-7) Ewe, lona kanye uhlanga uHezekiya afuna ukulweyisela ekuzimanyeni naye luza kuthi ekugqibeleni lubuphange ubuncwane baseYerusalem luze lubakhobokise abemi bayo. Ukubonisa kukaHezekiya amaBhabhiloni ubuncwane bakhe kuwenza abunyolukele.

30. UHezekiya wasibonisa njani isimo esihle sengqondo?

³⁰ Kubonakala ukuba eyesi-2 yeziKronike 32:26 ibhekisela kwisiganeko sokubonisa kukaHezekiya amaBhabhiloni ubuncwane bakhe, xa isithi: “UHezekiya wazithoba kwikratshi lentliziyo yakhe, yena nabemi baseYerusalem, yaye ukucaphuka kukaYehova akubafikelanga ngemihla kaHezekiya.”

31. Yaphelela entwenini imeko kaHezekiya, yaye kusifundisa ntoni oko?

³¹ Phezu kwako nje ukungafezeki kwakhe, uHezekiya wayeyindoda yokholo. Wayesazi ukuba uThixo wakhe, uYehova, ungumntu wokwenene oneemvakalelo. Xa wayebandezelekile, uHezekiya wathandaza ngokunyanisekileyo kuYehova, yaye uYehova wamphendula. UYehova uThixo wamnika uxolo yonke imihla yakhe, yaye uHezekiya wabonisa umbulelo ngako oko. (Isaya 39:8) Nathi namhlanje sifanele simgqale uYehova njengomntu wokwenene. Xa sivelelwa ziingxaki, kwanga nathi, njengoHezekiya, singacela kuYehova ubulumko nolwalathiso, “kuba unika bonke ngesisa, engangcikivi.” (Yakobi 1:5) Ukuba siyaqhubeka sinyamezela yaye sibonakalisa ukholo kuYehova, sinokuqiniseka ukuba uza kuba “ngumvuzi wabo bamfuna ngenyameko,” ngoku nakwixesha elizayo.—Hebhere 11:6.

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UKumkani uHezekiya ukholose ngoYehova xa ebejamelene neAsiriya enamandla

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Ukumkani uthumela abameli kuIsaya ukuba baye kuva isigqibo sikaYehova

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UHezekiya uthandazela ukuba igama likaYehova liphakanyiswe ngokoyiswa kweAsiriya

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Ingelosi kaYehova ixabela ama-Asiriya ali-185 000