Abaprofeti Nookumkani

30—Ukuhlangulwa KwiAsiriya

Ngexesha lokuba sengozini enkulu kwesizwe, xa imikhosi yama-Asiriya yayilingenele ilizwe lakwaYuda, kwaye kubonakala ngathi akukho nto inokuyisindisa iYerusalem entshabalalweni epheleleyo, uHezekiya wayihlanganisa imikhosi yommandla wakhe ukuba imelane ngesibindi esingethi mandla nabacinezeli babo, nokuba ithembele emandleni kaYehova ukubahlangula. “Yomelelani nikhaliphe; musani ukuqhiphuka umbilini ngukumkani waseAsiriya, nayingxokolo yonke anayo,” uHezekiya wawakhuthaza amadoda akwaYuda; “ngokuba baninzi abangakuthi, ngaphezu kwabangakuye. Okunaye yingalo yenyama, okunathi nguYehova wethu, ukuba asincede, alwe amadabi ethu.” 2 IZikronike 32:7, 8. AN 349.1

Kwakungekho ngaphandle kwesizathu ukuze uHezekiya athethe ngokuqiniseka ngesiphumo. IAsiriya eyayizigwagwisa, nangona yayisetyenziswa nguThixo okwexeshana njengentonga yomsindo waKhe ukohlwaya izizwe, yayingayi kusoloko isoyisa. Khangela uIsaya 10:5. “Musani ukumoyika uAsiriya,” yayisisigidimi sikaYehova ngoIsaya kwiminyaka eliqela eyadlulayo phambi kwabo babehlala eZiyon; “kuba kusaya kuba mzuzwana mncinane, . . . ajiwule phezu kwakhe uYehova wemikhosi iziniya, njengoko wabetha amaMidiyan eweni likaOrebhe; intonga yakhe ibe phezu kolwandle, ayiphakamise ngohlobo lwamaYiputa. Kuya kuthi ngaloo mini, usuke umthwalo wakhe esixhantini sakho, nedyokhwe yakhe entanyeni yakho, idyokhwe yonakale kukutyeba.” Iindima 24-27. AN 349.2

Kwesinye isigidimi sesiprofeto, esanikwa “ngomnyaka wokufa kokumkani onguAhazi,” umprofeti wathi, “Ufungile uYehova wemikhosi wathi, Inyaniso, njengoko ndicinge ngako, koma ngolo hlobo; ukuba ndimaphule uAsiriya ezweni lam, ndimnyashe ngeenyawo ezintabeni zam, isuke kubo idyokhwe yakhe, usuke umthwalo wakhe esixhantini sabo. Lilo elo icebo elicetyiweyo ngehlabathi lonke; siso eso isandla esolukileyo phezu kweentlanga zonke. Kuba uYehova wemikhosi ucebile, ngubani na onokutshitshisa? Nesandla sakhe eso solukile, ngubani na onokusibuyisa?” Isaya 14:28, 24-27. AN 350.1

Amandla omcinezeli kwakufuneka aphulwe. Kanti ke, uHezekiya, kwiminyaka yasekuqaleni kolawulo lwakhe, waqhubeka nokurhuma kwiAsiriya, ngokwesivumelwano esenziwa noAhazi. Ngeli xesha linye, ukumkani “wacebisana nabathetheli bakhe namagorha akhe,” wakwenza konke anako ukukhusela ubukumkani bakhe. Wayeqinisekisile ukuba amanzi akho anele ngaphakathi kweendonga zeYerusalem, lo gama ngaphandle aya kuba enqongophele. “Wazomeleza,walwakhalonke udonga olwaludiliziwe, wenyusa iinqaba ezinde phezu kwalo, wakha nolunye udonga ngaphandle, wayiqinisela iMilo yomzi kaDavide, wenza izikhali neengweletshetshe ezininzi. Wamisa abathetheli bemfazwe phezu kwabantu.” 2 IZikronike 32:3, 5, 6. Akukho nto yashiywa ingenziwanga ekwakufuneka yenziwe ukulungiselela ukungqingwa. AN 350.2

Ngexesha lokuhlala etroneni yakwaYuda kukaHezekiya, ama-Asiriya ayesele elithimbile iqela elikhulu labantwana bakwaIsrayeli kubukumkani bangasentla; kwathi kwiminyaka embalwa emva kokuba eqalile ukulawula, esaqinisa ukhuseleko lweYerusalem, ama-Asiriya ayingqinga ayithimba iSamariya azisasaza izizwe ezilishumi phakathi kwemimandla emininzi yobukumkani baseAsiriya. Imida yakwaYuda yayiziimayile ezimbalwa ukuba kude, ibe iYerusalem yona ingaphantsi kwamashumi amahlanu eemayile; kwaye intimbo etyebileyo enokufunyanwa etempileni inokuluhenda utshaba ukuba lubuye. AN 351.1

Noko kunjalo, ukumkani wakwaYuda wazimisela ukuyenza eyakhe indawo yokumelana notshaba; wathi, akuba ekufezile konke okunokwenziwa bubulumko namandla omntu, waba ehlanganise imikhosi yakhe kwaye eyikhuthazile ukuba yomelele. “Mkhulu phakathi kwakho oyiNgcwele kaIsrayeli,” yayisisigidimi sikamprofeti uIsaya esiya kuYuda; waza ukumkani, ngokholo olungagungqiyo, ngoku wavakalisa, elithi, “[Onathi] nguYehova uThixo wethu, ukuba asincede, alwe amadabi ethu.” Isaya 12:6; 2 IZikronike 32:8. AN 351.2

Ayikho into ekhuthaza ukholo ngokukhawuleza ukudlula ukusetyenziswa kwalo ukholo. Ukumkani wakwaYuda wayesilungiselele isaqhwithi esizayo; ngoku ke, eqinisekile ukuba isiprofeto esichasa ama-Asiriya siza kuzaliseka, wawubeka umphefumlo wakhe kuThixo. “Abantu bayama emazwini kaHezekiya.” 2 IZikronike 32:8. Inantoni yokwenzaxa imikhosi yama-Asiriya, isanda kubuya ekoyiseni ezona zizwe zikhulu emhlabeni, yaza yamoyisa noIsrayeli, ukuba angayijikela kuYuda imikhosi yawo? Inantoni yokwenza xa banokuqhayisa ngelithi, “Njengokuba isandla sam sazifumanayo izikumkani zezithixo ezingeni; ukanti imifanekiso yazo eqingqiweyo ingaphezulu kweyaseYerusalem neyakwaSamari: andiyi kuthi na, njengoko ndenza ngako kowakwaSamari nezithixo zawo ezingeni, ndenjenjalo kwiYerusalem nezithixo zayo? Isaya 10:10, 11. Akukho nto wayenokuyoyika uYuda; kuba ithemba labo lalikuYehova. AN 351.3

Intlekele ekade ilindelwe yada yafika ekugqibeleni. Imikhosi yaseAsiriya, yahambela phambili ukusuka ekoyiseni isiya ekoyiseni, yabonakala kwaYuda. Ziqinisekile ngoloyiso, iinkokheli zawahlula amabutho azo ayimikhosi emibini, omnye wayo wawuza kuhlangana nomkhosi waseYiputa kwelangasezantsi, lo gama omnye wawuza kungqinga iYerusalem. AN 352.1

Ithemba likaYuda elikuphela kwalo, ngoku lalikuThixo. Lonke uncedo olwalunokufumaneka eYiputa lwalunqanyulwe, kwaye kungekho zizwe zimbi zikhoyo kufutshane ukuba zingafaka isandla. AN 352.2

Abaphathi bama-Asiriya, beqinisekile ngamandla amabutho awo aqeqeshekileyo, alungiselela intlanganiso namadoda akwaYuda aziintloko, apho ayeza kuthi ngokugeza anyanzelise ukuba asinikezele isixeko. Esi sinyanzeliso sasikhatshwa ngamazwi okunyelisa uThixo wamaHebhere. Ngenxa yobuthakathaka kunye nokreqo kwaIsrayeli nakwaYuda, igama likaThixo lalingasoyikwa ezizweni, koko lasuka layinto yokungcikivwa okungapheliyo. Khangela uIsaya 52:5. AN 352.3

“Khanithi kuHezekiya,” watsho uRaheshake, omnye wabaphathi abakhulu baka Saneribhe, “Utsho ukumkani omkhulu, ukumkani waseAsiriya, ukuthi, Yeyani na le nkoloseko ukholose ngayo? Uthi (uthetha into yomlomo wodwa), uneqhinga nobugorha bokulwa. Ukholose ngabani na, ugwilike kum nje?” 2 Kumkani 18:19, 20. AN 352.4

Abaphathi babexoxa ngaphandle kwamasango esixeko, kodwa babesiva abalindi phezu kweendonga; kwathi, ngexesha abameli bokumkani waseAsiriya benyanzelisa ngezwi elikhulu abakufunayo, kumadoda aziintloko kwaYuda, bacelwa ukuba bathethe ngolwimi lwamaSiriya bangasebenzisi olwamaYuda, khon’ ukuze abo baphezu kwendonga bangazi ukuba kuqhubeka ntoni apho entlanganisweni. URabheshake, ehlekisa ngesi sicelo, waliphakamisa ngakumbi ilizwi lakhe, waza, eqhubeka ethetha ulwimi lwamaYuda, wathi: AN 353.1

“Waveni amazwi okumkani omkhulu, okumkani waseAsiriya. Uthi ukumkani, Makanganilukuhli uHezekiya, ngokuba akayi kuba nako ukunihlangula. Makanganikholosisi ngoYehova uHezekiya, esithi, Inene, uya kusihlangula uYehova; lo mzi awusayi kunikelwa esandleni sokumkani waseAsiriya. AN 353.2

“Musani ukumphulaphula uHezekiya, ngokuba utsho ukumkani waseAsiriya ukuthi, Xolisanani nam, niphume nize kum, nidle elowo umdiliya wakhe, elowo umkhiwane wakhe, nisele elowo amanzi equla lakhe; ndide ndize ndinise ezweni elinjengelizwe lenu, ilizwe lengqolowa newayini entsha, ilizwe lesonka nezidiliya. AN 353.3

“Ize nilumke hleze aninyange uHezekiya, esithi, UYehova uya kusihlangula. Oothixo beentlanga balihlangule na elowo ilizwe lakhe esandleni sokumkani waseAsiriya? Baphi na oothixo baseHamati neArpadi? Baphi na oothixo baseSerarvayim, ukuba bangabi balihlangule elakwaSamari esandleni sam? Nguwuphi na koothixo bonke bala mazwe,olihlanguleyo ilizwe lakhe esandleni sam, ukuba ade uYehova ayihlangule iYerusalem esandleni sam? Isaya 36:13-20. AN 353.4

Kwezi zicunukiso, abantwana bakwaYuda “abamphendula nazwi.” Intlanganiso yayifike ekupheleni. Abameli bamaYuda babuyela kuHezekiya “bezikrazule iingubo zabo, bamxelela amazwi kaRabheshake.” Iindima 21, 22. Ukumkani, wathi akuva ngomngeni ononyeliso, “wazikrazula iingubo zakhe, wazigquma ngezirhwexayo, wangena endlwini kaYehova.” 2 Kumkani 19:1. AN 354.1

Kwabalekiswa umthunywa kuIsaya ukuba amxelele ngesiphumo sentlanganiso. “Le mini yimini yembandezelo, neyokohlwaywa, neyogibo,” lilizwi elo awalithumelayo ukumkani. “Mhlawumbi uYehova uThixo wakho angaweva onke amazwi kaRabheshake, othunywe ngukumkani waseAsiriya inkosi yakhe, ukungcikiva uThixo ophilileyo; amohlwaye ngenxa yamazwi lawo awavileyo uYehova UThixo wakho. Nyusa ke umthandazo ngenxa yamaqongqolo asekhoyo.” Iindima 3, 4. “Bathandaza ke uHezekiya ukumkani, noIsaya unyana ka-Amotsi, umprofeti, ngenxa yoko; bakhala basingisa emazulwini.” 2 IZikronike 32:20. AN 354.2

UThixo wawuphendula umthandazo wabakhonzi baKhe. UIsaya wanikwa isigidimi esiya kuHezekiya: “Utsho uYehova ukuthi, Musa ukuwoyika amazwi owavileyo, abandinyelise ngawo abafana bokumkani waseAsiriya. Yabona, ndimfaka umoya, ukuba eve udaba olubi, abuye ke aye ezweni lakhe, ndimwise ngekrele ezweni lakhe.” 2 Kumkani 19:6, 7. AN 354.3

Abameli bama-Asiriya,emva kokubabewashiyile amadoda amakhulu akwaYuda, bathetha ngqo nokumkani wabo, owaye enesahlulo somkhosi esasilinde ukuvela okunokuvela ngaseYiputa. Wathi akuyiva ingxelo, uSaneribhe wabhala “incwadi yokumngcikiva uYehova uThixo kaIsrayeli, ethetha ngaye esithi, Njengokuba oothixo beentlanga zamazwe bengabahlangulanga abantu babo esandleni sam, ngokunjalo akayi kubahlangula noThixo kaHezekiya abantu bakhe esandleni sam.” 2 IZikronike 32:17. AN 355.1

Ukothusa kokuzigwagwisa, kwakukhatshwa yincwadi, ethi: “Musa ukulukuhlwa nguThixo wakho, okholose ngaye wena, usithi, ayisayi kunikelwa iYerusalem esandleni sokumkani waseAsiriya. Uyabona, ukuvile wena oko bakwenzayo ookumkani baseAsiriya kumazwe onke, ukuba bawaphanzisa. Uya kuhlangulwa na ke wena? Oothixo beentlanga bazihlangula na ke ezo zatshatyalaliswa ngoobawo: iGozan, neHaran, neRetsefe, nabase-Eden ababeseTelasare? Uphi na ukumkani weHamati, nokumkani weArpadi, nokumkani womzi waseSefarvayim, neHena, neIva?” 2 Kumkani 19:10-13. AN 355.2

Wathi ukumkani wakwaYuda akuyifumana incwadi enamazwi acunukisayo, wayithabatha wangena nayo etempileni “wawaneka uHezekiya phambi koYehova” wathandaza enokholo olukhulu loncedo oluvela ezulwini, khon’ ukuze iintlanga zomhlaba zazi ukuba uThixo wamaHebhere usaphila kwaye usalawula. Indima 14. Uzuko lukaYehova lwalusesichengeni; nguYe kuphela owayenokuzisa ukuhlangulwa. AN 355.3

“Yehova, Thixo wakwaIsrayeli, uhleli wena phakathi kweekerubhi,” wabongoza uHezekiya, unguye uThixo wena wedwakwizikumkani zonke zehlabathi; wena uwenzile amazulu nehlabathi. Thoba indlebe yakho, Yehova, uve, ubone; uwave amazwi kaSaneribhe, othume ukungcikiva ngawo uThixo ophilileyo. Okunene, Yehova, ookumkani baseAsiriya bazichithile iintlanga namazwe azo, babanikela oothixo bazo emlilweni, kuba babengethixo, babengumsebenzi wezandla zomntu, umthi nelitye; babatshabalalisa ke. Ke ngoko, Yehova Thixo wethu, khawusisindise esandleni sakhe, zazi zonke izikumkani zehlabathi ukuba wena unguYehova uThixo wedwa.” 2 Kumkani 19:15-19. AN 356.1

“Ulomalusi kaIsrayeli, beka indlebe!
Uloqhuba uYosefu njengezimvu,
Ulohlala ezikerubhini, bengezela!
Phambi koEfrayim noBhenjamin noManase,
Vusa ubugorha bakho uze kusisindisa.
Thixo, sibuyise,
Ukhanyise ubuso bakho, sisindiswe.

“Yehova, Thixo wemikhosi,
Kunini na uqhuma umsindo wakho
ekuthandazeni kwabantu bakho?
Ubadlisa isonka seenyembezi,
Wabaseza iinyembezi ngemilinganiso.
Usenze into abaxabana ngayo abamelwane bethu;
Iintshaba zethu ziyasigculela.
Thixo wemikhosi, sibuyise,
Ukhanyise ubuso bakho, sisindiswe.

“Wanyothula umdiliya eYiputa,
Wagxotha iintlanga, wawutyala;
Wahlahla phambi kwawo,
Wendelisa iingcambu, wazalisa ilizwe.
Zagutyungelwa iintaba ngumthunzi wawo,
Nemisedare kaThixo ngamasebe awo.
Wasa amasebe awo elwandle,
Namagatya awo kuwo uMlambo. AN 356.2

“Uzityhobozelani na iintango zawo,
Ukuze bawukhe bonke abadlula ngendlela?
Ingulube yasehlathini iyawubhuqa,
Nento edakasa endle iyawudla.
Thixo wemikhosi, khawubuye,
Uqondele usemazulwini, ubone,
uwuvelele lo mdiliya; . . .
Into esiyityeleyo isandla sakho sokunene,
Unyana lo uzizimaseleyo ngokwakho. . . .

“Siphilise, silinqule igama lakho.
Yehova, Thixo wemikhosi, sibuyise,
Ukhanyise ubuso bakho, sisindiswe.” AN 359.1

Indumiso 80.

Izibongozo zikaHezekiya ngenxa kaYuda nangenxa yozuko loMlawuli omKhulu wabo zazihambelana nengqondo kaThixo. USolomon emthandazweni wakhe wokusikelela ekunikelweni kuThixo kwetempile, wathandaza uYehova ukuba “abagwebele abantu bakhe amaIsrayeli, into yemini ngemini yayo; ukuze zazi zonke izizwe zomhlaba, ukuba uYehova nguye uThixo, akukho wumbi.” 1 Kumkani 8:59, 60. Ngendlela eyodwa, uYehova wayeza kubonisa uthando xa, ngamaxesha emfazwe okanye engcinezelo ngumkhosi, amadoda azintloko kuIsrayeli kufuneka angene endlwini yomthandazo abongozele ukuhlangulwa. Iindima 33, 34. AN 359.2

UHezekiya akazange ashiywe engenathemba. UIsaya wathumela kuye, esithi, “Utsho uYehova, uThixo wakwaIsrayeli, ukuthi, Okuthandazeleyo kum ngokubhekiselele kuSaneribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya, ndikuvile. Lilo eli ilizwi alithethileyo uYehova ngaye: AN 359.3

“Intombi eyintombi enguZiyon iyakudela, iyakugculela; intombi enguYerusalem ihlunguzela intloko emva kwakho. AN 359.4

“Ngubani na lo umngcikivileyo, umnyelisileyo? Ngubani na lo umphakamisele izwi lakho, uwaphakamisele amehlo akho phezulu nje? AN 359.5

NgOyingcwele wakwaIsrayeli. Ngabathunywa bakho uyingcikivile iNkosi, wathi, Ngobuninzi beenqwelo zam zokulwa ndiqabele mna ezintlomeni zeentaba, emathambekeni eLebhanon; ndiyayigawula imisedare ayo emide kakhulu, nemisipres yayo enyuliweyo, ndifike kweyokuphela indawo yayo yokulalisa, ehlathini lentsimi yayo echumayo. Mna ndimbe ndasela amanzi abefudula engekho, ndayomisa ngeentende zeenyawo zam yonke imilambo yeendawo ezingqingiweyo, (KJV). AN 360.1

“Akuvanga na? Kwakude ndakwenza oku, kwangemihla yamandulo ndakubumba. Ndikufikisile, kwenzeka ngoku, ukuba uyikhahlele phantsi imizi enqatyisiweyo, ibe yingxakangxaka yemiwewe. Abemi bayo banqumka izandla, baqhiphuka umbilini, badana, baba ngumfuno wasendle, nohlaza, utyani obuphezu kwendlu, isihumba engqoloweni ingekabi mvila. AN 360.2

“Ke, ukuhlala kwakho, nokuphuma kwakho, nokungena kwakho, ndiyakwazi, nokuguguma kwakho ngam. Ngenxa yokundigugumela kwakho, nangenxa yokutyesha kwakho okunyuke kweza ezindlebeni zam, ndiya kufaka ikhonkco lam empumlweni yakho, nomkhala wam emlonyeni wakho, ndikubuyise ngendlela oweza ngayo.” 2 Kumkani 19:20-28. AN 360.3

“Ilizwe lakwaYuda lenziwe layinkangala lutshaba oluyingenileyo, kodwa uThixo wayethembise ukwaneza iimfuno zabantu ngommangaliso. Kwafika isigidimi kuHezekiya, sisithi, “Ke kaloku nguwo lo umqondiso kuwe: lo mnyaka kodliwa ummilela, ngomnyaka wesibini kodliwa isihlabane,ngomnyaka wesithathunohlwayela nivune, nityale izidiliya nidle iziqhamo zazo; abasindileyo bendlu yakwaYuda, abo baseleyo babuye bendelisele iingcambu phantsi, benze iziqhamo phezulu. Ngokuba kuya kuphuma eYerusalem abaseleyo, nabasindileyo entabeni yeZiyon. Ubukhwele bukaYehova wemikhosi buya kukwenza oko. AN 360.4

“Ngako oko utsho uYehova ngokubhekisele kukumkani waseAsiriya, ukuthi, akayi kungena kulo mzi; akayi kutola notolo kuwo; akayi kuwuzela enengweletshetshe, akayi kuwufumbela ludonga kwakungqinga. Uya kubuya ngendlela aweza ngayo; akasayi kungena kulo mzi; utsho uYehova. Ndiya kuwukhusela lo mzi, ndiwusindise ngenxa yam, nangenxa kaDavide umkhonzi wam.” Iindima 29-34. AN 361.1

“Ngabo bona obo busuku, usindiso lwafika. “Isithunywa sikaYehova, saxabela emkhosini wama-Asiriya ikhulu elinamanci asibhozo anesihlanu lamawaka.” Indima 35. “Onke amagorha anobukroti, neenganga, nabathetheli, emkhosini wokumkani waseAsiriya,” babulawa. 2 IZikronike 32:21. AN 361.2

Iindaba zesi sigwebo sibi phezu komkhosi owawuthunyelwe ukuba uye kuthabatha iYerusalem zafikelela kuSenakeribhe ngokukhawuleza, esalinde ukuvela kwabasuka eYiputa besiza kwaYuda. Ebethwe luloyiko, ukumkani waseAsiriya wakhawuleza ukumka “wabuya ubuso bakhe buthe khunubembe, waya ezweni lakhe.” Indima 21. Lalingelide ixesha awayeza kulilawula. Ngokuhambelana nesiprofeto ebesithethiwe ngokubhekiselele kwisiphelo sakhe esikhawulezileyo, wabulawa ngabantu bendlu yakhe, waza “uEsar-hadon, unyana wakhe, waba ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe.” Isaya 37:38. AN 361.3

UThixo wamaHebhere wamoyisa umAsiriya owayenekratshi.UzukolukaYehovalwaphindezelwaemehlweni azo izizwe ezijikelezileyo. EYerusalem iintliziyo zabantuzazaliswaluvuyoolungcwele. Izicengo zabo ezinyanisekileyo zokuhlangulwa zazixutywe nokuvuma izono kunye neenyembezi ezininzi. Kwintswelo yabo enkulu babethembele ngokupheleleyo emandleni kaThixo okusindisa, akabaphoxa. Ngoku iintendelezo zetempile zaduma ziingoma zendumiso enendili. AN 362.1

“Waziwa kwaYuda uThixo,
Likhulu kwaIsrayeli igama lakhe.
Umnquba wakhe waba seSalem,
Nekhaya lakhe eZiyon.
Wayaphula apho imibane yesaphetha,
Ingweletshetshe, nekrele, nezixhobo zemfazwe.

“Ukhanyile, uyingangamsha
Ngaphezu kweentaba zokuqwenga.
Babhunyulwe abantliziyo iyimbalasane
Balala umlala kanye,
Akazifumana izandla zawo onke amakroti.
Ekukhalimeni kwakho, Thixo kaYakobi,
Kwasindwa bubuthongo iinqwelo zokulwa namahashe.
Unguwena wena woyikekayo;
Ngubani na onokuma phambi kwakho
wakuba nomsindo?
Emazulwini usivakalisile isigwebo;
Loyika ihlabathi, lazola,
Ekusukeni kukaThixo ukuba agwebe,
Abasindise bonke abalulamileyo behlabathi.
Ngokuba ubushushu bomntu buya kuba
ngumbulelo kuwe;
Uya kuwabhinqa amasalela obushushu.

“Bhambathisani, nisizalise isibhambathiso
kuYehova uThixo wenu;
Bonke abamngqongileyo mabeze nezithabathaba
kofanele kukoyikwa.
Uya kunqumla ukufutha kweenganga,
Uyoyikeka kookumkani behlabathi.” AN 362.2

Indumiso 76.

Ukuwa nokuvuka kobukumkani beAsiriya kunezifundo ezityebileyokwizizwe zasemhlabeni namhlanje. Impefumleloilufanisa uzuko lweAsiriya encotsheniyempumelelo yayo nomthiomkhulu ohloniphekileyo egadini kaThixo, oyivelela yonke imithi ewujikelezileyo. AN 363.1

“Uyabona, uAsiriya ebengumsedare waseLebhanon, omasebe mahle, eyintshinyela yemithi enomthunzi, ephakamile ngobude; . . . Zonke iintlanga ezinkulu zahlala emthunzini wakhe. Wamhle ngobukhulu bakhe, ngobude bamasebe akhe; ngokuba ingcambu yakhe yabe isemanzini amaninzi. Imisedare esemyezweni kaThixo ayimsithanga; imisipres ayifananga neembaxa zakhe, nemipleyini ayibanga njengamahlamvu akhe; yonke imithi emyezweni kaThixo ayifananga naye ngobuhle bayo. . . . Yaba nomona ngaye yonke imithi yase-Eden.” Hezekile 31:3-9. AN 363.2

Abalawuli beAsiriya bona, endaweni yokusebenzisa iintsikelelo zabo ezingaqhelekanga ukuze kuzuze uluntu, basuka baba sisibetho kumazwe amaninzi. Bengenanceba, bengacingi nto ngoThixo okanye abantu bakubo, basukela inkqubo emisiweyo yokwenza ukuba zonke izizwe zibuvume ubukhulu boothixo baseNineve, abaya babaphakamisa ngaphezu kOsenyangweni. UThixo wayethume uYona kubo enesigidimi sokulumkisa, kwathi okwethutyana, bazithoba phambi kukaYehova wemikhosi bafuna ukuxolelwa. Kwathi kungekudala, babuyela ekunquleni izithixo nokoyisa ihlabathi. AN 363.3

Umprofeti uNahum, ekumangaleleni kwakhe abenzi bobubi eNineve, wadanduluka, wathi: AN 363.4

“Yeha, umzi wamagazi!
Uzele kwaphela luhanahaniso nokudlavula;
Akumki kuwo ukuqwenga.
“Isithonga seziniya, nesithonga sokugoqoza kweevili,
Nokuphala kwamahashe,
nokuxhuma kweenqwelo zokulwa; Abamahashe besenza amagqasi,
Ukubengezela kwamakrele, nokubengezela kwezikhali:
Ukuba baninzi ababuleweyo, . . .

Uthi uYehova wemikhosi,
“Yabona, ndikuchasile.” AN 363.5

Nahum 3:1-5.

Ngokuchaneke ngendlela engenakuphazama, Lowo Ongenasiphelo usayigcina ingxelo yezizwe. Nangona inceba yaKhe inothando, ibizela enguqukweni, le ngxelo ihlala ivulekile; kodwa athi amanani akufika kumgangatho othile awubekileyo uThixo, luqale ulungiselelo lwengqumbo yaKhe. Ingxelo ivaliwe. Umonde weZulu uphelile. Inceba ayisangxengxezi ngenxa yazo (izizwe). AN 364.1

“UYehova uzeka kade umsindo, mkhulu ke ngamandla, ongakhe amenze msulwa onetyala; uYehova, indlela yakhe isesivunguvaneni naseluqhwitheleni, namafu aluthuli lweenyawo zakhe. Ukhalimela ulwandle, alutshise, ayomise nemilambo yonke; intshwenyile iKarmele neBhashan, intshwenyile intyatyambo yaseLebhanon. Iintaba ziyanyikima phambi kwakhe, neenduli ziyanyibilika; liyafukuka ihlabathi ebusweni bakhe, elimiweyo nabemi bonke abakulo. Ngubani na ongemayo phambi kobhavumo lwakhe? Ngubani na ongaziphakamisayo ekuvutheni komsindo wakhe? Ubushushu bakhe buphalazeka njengomlilo, namawa ayadilizwa nguye.” Nahum 1:3-6. AN 364.2

Kwakungenxa yoko ukuze iNineve, “umzi obudlamkile, obuhleli ukholosile, obusithi entliziyweni yawo, Ndim kwaphela, akukho wumbi,” waba yinkangala, “kuthe qongqololo, kwathi qongqololo, kwaba selubala,” “isikhundla seengonyama, nedlelo elo leengonyama ezintsha, ebilihamba ingonyama induna nengonyamakazi, ithole lengonyama, kungekho wothusayo.” Zefaniya 2:15; Nahum 2:10, 11 AN 364.3

Ekhangele phambili kwixesha elizayo xa ikratshi leAsiriya liya kukhahlelwa phantsi, uZefaniya waprofeta ngeNineve: “Iya kubutha phakathi kwayo imihlambi, izinto eziphilileyo nokuba ziziphi, ziziimfidi; ingcangube nokhwalimanzi balale emanqanamini; kobakho lizwi leemvumi ezifestileni, amazala emibundwini yeminyango; ngokuba ewuhlubile umsebenzi wabo wemisedare.” Zefaniya 2:14. AN 365.1

Lwalulukhulu uzuko lobukumkani beAsiriya; saba sikhulu nesiwo sabo. Umprofeti uHezekile, eqhubela phambili umfuziselo womthi onendili womsedare, wakuxela kwangaphambili ngokucacileyo ukuwa kweAsiriya ngenxa yekratshi layo nenkohlakalo yayo. Wavakalisa wathi: AN 365.2

“Ngako oko yatsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi, . . . wawanyusela amantloko akhe phakathi kweengqimba zamafu, yazinyusa intliziyo yakhe ngokuphakama kwakhe: ndiya kumnikela esandleni senjengele yeentlanga; inene, iya kumphatha ngesiko layo; ndamgxotha ngenxa yokungendawo kwakhe. Banqumla abasemzini, abangcangcazelisi basezintlangeni bamlahla. Ezintabeni nasemifuleni yonke awa amasebe akhe; amahlamvu akhe aphukela ezihlanjeni zehlabathi lonke; zehla zemka emthunzini wakhe zonke izizwe zehlabathi, zamlahla. Phezu kwesibili sakhe esiwileyo kuhlala zonke iintaka zezulu, zifike emahlamvini akhe zonke izinto eziphilileyo zasendle: ukuze ingaziphakamisi ngenxa yobude bayo yonke imithi yasemanzini. . . . AN 365.3

“Itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi, Ngemini yokuhla kwakhe ukuya kwelabafileyo, ndabanga isijwili; . . . yonke imithi yasendle yetha amandla ngenxa yakhe. . . . Ngesithonga sokuwa kwakhe ndazinyikimisa iintlanga.” Hezekile 31:10-16. AN 365.4

Ikratshi leAsiriya nokuwa kwayo kusebenza njengesifundo esingumzekeliso kuse ekupheleni kwexesha. Ngeentlanga zomhlaba namhlanje eziziphakamisileyo nezithi ngokuzigwagwisa nekratshi zizimise ukuba zimchase (uThixo), uThixo uyabuza, “Ufana nabani na ngobuqaqawuli nangobukhulu emithini yase-Eden? Uya kuhliselwa nemithi yase-Eden ezweni langaphantsi.” Indima 18. AN 366.1

“UYehova ulungile, uligwiba ngemini yembandezelo, uyabazi abazimela ngaye. Uyayiphelisa indawo yayo ngomkhukula” kubo bonke abazama ukuziphakamisa ngaphezu kOsenyangweni. Nahum 1:7, 8. AN 366.2

“[Liya kuthotywa] iqhayiya leAsiriya, imke intonga yaseYiputa.” Zekariya 10:11. Le nto ayiyi kwenzeka kuphela kwizizwe ezizimise ukuba zichase uThixo kumaxesha akudala, kodwa nakwizizwe zanamhlanje ezisilelayo ukuzalisekisa injongo yezulu. Ngemini yemivuzo yokugqibela, xa uMgwebi olilungisa wawo wonke umhlaba aya kuthi “azihluze iintlanga” (Isaya 30:28), zize zithi ezo zigcine inyaniso zivunyelwe ukuba zingene eMzini kaThixo, amasango ezulu ahlokome ziingoma zoloyiso zabahlangulweyo. Niya kuba nengoma,” watsho njalo umprofeti, “enjengeyobusuku bokungcwaliswa komthendeleko, novuyo lwentliziyo lube njengabahamba bebetha ugwali, ukuya entabeni kaYehova, eliweni likaIsrayeli. Uya kulivakalisa uYehova izwi lakhe lendili. . . . Kuba uAsiriya uya kuqhiphuka umbilini lilizwi likaYehova, ekubetheni kwakhe ngentonga. Kuya kuthi konke ukuhamba koswazi lommiselo, aluhlisayo uYehova phezu kwakhe, kube neengqongqo neehadi.” Iindima 29-32. AN 366.3