1. Kungani icebo lama-Aramu lama-Israyeli lalingasoze liphumelele?

 NGELINYE ilanga phakathi kuka-762 B.C.E. lo-759 B.C.E., inkosi yako-Israyeli lenkosi yase-Aramu zahamba zayakulwa lombuso wakoJuda. Zihloseni? Ukuyahlasela iJerusalema, zisuse iNkosi u-Ahazi zibesezifaka enye inkosi esikhundleni sakhe, okungenzeka yayingayisiyo yosendo lweNkosi uDavida. (Isaya. 7:5, 6) Inkosi yako-Israyeli yayingabuzanga elangeni. UJehova wayethembise ukuthi omunye wosendo lukaDavida wayezahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi kuze kube nini lanini, njalo ilizwi likaNkulunkulu aliweli phansi loba sekutheni.​—Josh. 23:14; 2 Sam. 7:16.

2-4. Chasisa ukuthi u-Isaya 7:​14, 16 wagcwaliseka njani (a) ngekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E. (b) ngekhulu lokuqala C.E.

² Ekuqaliseni kwakukhanya angani ama-Aramu lama-Israyeli ayephumelela empini. Kwenye yezimpi kwafa amaqhawe ka-Ahazi alamandla angu-120 000. UMahaseya “indodana yenkosi” wabulawa. (2 ImiLan. 28:6, 7) Kodwa uJehova wayekhangele. Wakhumbula isithembiso sakhe kuDavida, wasethuma umphrofethi u-Isaya lombiko owawududuza kakhulu.

³ U-Isaya wathi: ‘Intombi emsulwa izathatha isisu izale indodana ezayetha ibizo ithi ngu-Imanuweli. Kodwa-ke umfana engakazi okwaneleyo ukuba ale okubi akhethe okulungileyo, ilizwe lamakhosi amabili owesabayo [i-Aramu lo-Israyeli] lizachithwa.’ (Isaya. 7:14, 16) Kuqondile ukuthi ingxenye yokuqala yesiphrofetho lesi igcwaliseka kuMesiya, futhi izikhathi ezinengi isetshenziswa njalo. (Mat. 1:23) Kodwa njengoba ‘amakhosi amabili’ la, inkosi yako-Israyeli lenkosi yase-Aramu ayengasawahluphi amaJuda ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., kutsho ukuthi ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kwesiphrofetho mayelana lo-Imanuweli kwakwenzakale ngesikhathi u-Isaya esaphila.

 ⁴ U-Isaya eqeda nje ukwenza isimemezelo lesi esimangalisayo, umkakhe waba lesisu wabeletha indodana wayinika ibizo wathi nguMaheri-Shalali Hashi-Bhazi. Kungenzeka ukuthi umntwana lo kwakunguye ‘u-Imanuweli,’ owayetshiwo ngu-Isaya. * Ngezikhathi okwabhalwa ngazo iBhayibhili kwakungenzeka ukuthi usana luphiwe ibizo elithile luzalwa, engxenye elokukhumbula isehlakalo esithile, kodwa abazali balo kanye lezihlobo zalo basebenzise elinye ibizo. (2 Sam. 12:24, 25) Akulabufakazi bokuthi uJesu wake wasebenzisa ibizo elithi Imanuweli.​—Bala u-Isaya 7:14; 8:3, 4.

5. Yibuphi ubuthutha obenziwa yiNkosi u-Ahazi?

⁵ Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli labase-Aramu behluphana loJuda elinye ilizwe elalilamandla amakhulu kakhulu laselihlose ukuthumba amazwe wonke kulesosigaba. Kwakuyi-Asiriya eyayisifuna ukubusa umhlaba wonke. U-Isaya 8:3, 4 uthi i-Asiriya yayizathatha “inotho yaseDamaseko lempahla ethunjwe eSamariya” ingakahlaseli umbuso wakoJuda oseningizimu. Kulokuthi athembe ilizwi likaNkulunkulu elivela ku-Isaya, u-Ahazi owayengelakholo wangena esivumelwaneni esiyingozi lama-Asiriya, okwacina kubangele ukuthi abakoJuda bacindezelwe. (2 AmaKho. 16:7-10) U-Ahazi waba ngumalusi wakoJuda ongelancedo sibili! Singazibuza, ‘Nxa ngilezinqumo eziqakathekileyo okumele ngizenze, ngithemba uNkulunkulu yini kumbe abantu?’​—Zaga. 3:5, 6.

6. Yiwuphi umehluko owawukhona phakathi kokubusa kuka-Ahazi lokukaHezekhiya?

⁶ U-Ahazi wafa ngo-746 B.C.E., indodana yakhe uHezekhiya yathi iqalisa ukubusa yathola umbuso wakoJuda uhlaselwe yibuyanga njalo ukukhonza kweqiniso kungasekho. Inkosi le encane yayizaqala ngokwenzani ngesikhathi iqalisa ukubusa? Ngokuvuselela umkhonomi wakoJuda owawusubhazalele yini? Hatshi. UHezekhiya wayekuthanda ukukhonza, engumalusi omuhle womhlambi welizwe lakhe. Into yokuqala ayenzayo yikubuyisela ukukhonza kweqiniso lokwenza ukuthi isizwe esasihlanhlathile sibuyisane loJehova. UHezekhiya kazange athikaze ukuthatha inyathelo esekuzwisisile okwakufunwa nguNkulunkulu. Uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu kithi.​—2 ImiLan. 29:1-19.

7. Kungani kwakuqakathekile ukuthi amaLevi aqinisekiswe ukuthi inkosi entsha iyawasekela?

⁷ AmaLevi ayezakuba lengxenye enkulu ekwenzeni umsebenzi oqakathekileyo wokubuyisela ukukhonza kweqiniso. Ngakho-ke uHezekhiya wahlangana lawo ukuze awaqinisekise ukuthi wayezancedisana lawo. Akucabange ukuthi kwakunjani kumaLevi ayethembekile ayesemhlanganweni lo, inyembezi zentokozo zihlengezela lapho esizwa inkosi isithi: “UJehova uselikhethile lina ukuma phambi kwakhe limkhonze.” (2 ImiLan. 29:11) Yikho-ke amaLevi ayelesiqondiso esicacileyo sokuthi athuthukise ukukhonza kweqiniso.

8. Kuyini okwenziwa nguHezekhiya ukuze avuselele ukukhonza kwelizwe, njalo kwaba lempumela bani?

⁸ UHezekhiya wamema bonke abakoJuda labako-Israyeli emkhosini omkhulu wePhasika, owalandelwa nguMkhosi Wesinkwa Esingelamvubelo owathatha amalanga ayisikhombisa. Abantu bawukholisa umkhosi lo okokuthi kwaze kwangezelelwa ezinye izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. IBhayibhili libika ukuthi: “Kwaba lokujabula okukhulu eJerusalema, ngoba kusukela ezinsukwini zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida inkosi yako-Israyeli kwakungazange kube lomkhosi onjalo eJerusalema.” (2 ImiLan. 30:26) Umkhosi lo wokukhonza wabavuselela kakhulu abantu bonke. Ku-2 ImiLando 31:⁠1 sifunda ukuthi: ‘Sekuphelile konke lokhu, badiliza izinsika zokukhonzela u-Ashera. Badiliza izindawo zokukhonzela lama-alithare.’ AbakoJuda baqalisa ukubuyela kuJehova ngendlela emangalisayo kakhulu.  Ukuvuselela kwabo ukukhonza kwakuyinto eyayiqakatheke ukwedlula zonke nxa sikhangela okwasekuzabehlela.

9. (a) Kungani amacebo ako-Israyeli engaphumelelanga? (b) USenakheribi waqala waphumelela njani ekunqobeni abakoJuda?

⁹ Izinto zenzakala ngendlela u-Isaya ayezilandise ngayo, ama-Asiriya anqoba umbuso wako-Israyeli osenyakatho aphinda athumba labantu. Lokhu kwavimba icebo lama-Israyeli lokugenqula inkosi yosendo lukaDavida embusweni. Kodwa kwahamba njani ngamacebo e-Asiriya? Ama-Asiriya ayesezimisele ukuyahlasela abakoJuda. “Ngomnyaka wetshumi lane wokubusa kwenkosi uHezekhiya, uSenakheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wahlasela yonke imizi yakoJuda eyinqaba wayithumba.” Kubikwa ukuthi uSenakheribi wanqoba imizi yakoJuda engu-46. Wawuzakuzwa njani aluba wawuhlala eJerusalema ngesikhathi leso? Ubona amabutho ase-Asiriya elokhu esondela enqoba imizi yakoJuda ilandelana.​—2 AmaKho. 18:13.

10. Kungani singathi amazwi akuMikha 5:5, 6 amnika isibindi uHezekhiya?

¹⁰ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uHezekhiya wayeyikhangele ingozi eyayisizamehlela. Kodwa kulokuthi aphelelwe lithemba abesephongucela uncedo ezizweni ezingabahedeni njengoyise u-Ahazi owayeyisihlubuki, yena wathemba uJehova. (2 ImiLan. 28:20, 21) Kungenzeka ukuthi wayewazi amazwi omphrofethi uMikha owayesaphila ngesikhathi leso, owayephrofethe mayelana le-Asiriya wathi: ‘Um-Asiriya sizamvusela abelusi abayisikhombisa, kanye labakhokheli babantu abaficamibili. Bazabusa ilizwe lase-Asiriya ngenkemba.’ (Mik. 5:5, 6) Amazwi la aphefumulelweyo kumele ukuthi amqinisa sibili uHezekhiya ngoba ayetshengisa ukuthi ibutho elingajayelekanga lalizalwisana lama-Asiriya kanye lokuthi abahlaseli laba ababelesihluku babezacina benqotshiwe.

11. Isiphrofetho sabelusi abayisikhombisa labakhokheli abaficamibili sasizagcwaliseka nini ngendlela eqakathekileyo?

¹¹ Isiphrofetho esimayelana labelusi abayisikhombisa labakhokheli (“izikhulu,” The New English Bible) abaficamibili sasizagcwaliseka ngendlela eqakathekileyo sekukudala kwazalwa uJesu ‘umbusi wako-Israyeli, omdabuko wakhe ngowasekadeni.’ (Bala uMikha 5:1, 2.) Lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala lapho izinceku zikaJehova zisengozini evela “kuma-Asiriya” akulezinsuku. Yiwaphi amabutho  azakhokhelwa yiNdodana kaJehova ebusayo khathesi, azasetshenziswa ukulwisa izitha lezi ezesabekayo? Sizabona. Kodwa asiqaleni ngokukhangela ukuthi singafundani kulokho okwenziwa nguHezekhiya ngesikhathi ehlaselwa libutho elesabekayo lama-Asiriya.

12. UHezekhiya lalabo ababemncedisa benzani ukuze bavikele abantu bakaNkulunkulu?

¹² UJehova uhlala ezimisele ukusincedisa kulokho esingeke senelise ukuzenzela khona, kodwa ukhangelele ukuthi senze okusemandleni ethu. UHezekhiya wacebisana ‘lezikhulu zakhe kanye labebutho’ bavumelana ukuthi ‘kuvalwe amanzi avela ezintonjeni ezazingaphandle kwedolobho. Ngakho [uHezekhiya] wasebenza ngamandla evuselela umduli lokwakha imiphongolo phezu kwayo. Wakha omunye umduli ngaphandle kwalowo, wenza lezikhali lezihlangu ezinengi kakhulu.’ (2 ImiLan. 32:3-5) UJehova wasebenzisa abaphrofethi bakhe ababemthanda lamadoda amanengi angamaqhawe agoqela uHezekhiya lezikhulu zakhe, ukuze avikele njalo eluse abantu bakhe ngesikhathi leso.

13. Kuyini okuqakatheke kakhulu okwenziwa nguHezekhiya ukuze aqinise abantu bakhe mayelana lokuhlasela okwasekuseduze? Chasisa.

¹³ Ngaphandle kokuvala amanzi lokwakha izinqaba zokuvikela umuzi, uHezekhiya esuka khonapho wenza okuthile okwakuqakatheke kakhulu. Wabuthanisa abantu wasebaqinisa ukuthi bangekeli ukukhonza ngenxa yokuthi wayengumalusi owayelendaba labantu bakhe. Wabatshela wathi: “Lingesabi njalo lingethuselwa libutho elikhulu kangaka lenkosi yase-Asiriya ngoba kulamandla amakhulu akithi adlula akuye. Yena ulengalo yenyama kuphela, kodwa thina siloJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukusisiza lokusilwela izimpi zethu.” Lesi kwakuyisikhumbuzo esasiqinisa ukholo sibili, sokuthi uJehova wayezabalwela abantu bakhe. AmaJuda athi ekuzwa lokhu ‘baba lesibindi ngenxa yalokho okwakutshiwo yinkosi yakoJuda uHezekhiya.’ Nanzelela ukuthi ‘okwatshiwo nguHezekhiya’ yikho okwenza ukuthi abantu babeke amaphaphu phansi. UHezekhiya lezikhulu zakhe lamadoda akhe empi kanye labaphrofethi uMikha lo-Isaya, baba ngabelusi abaluncedo kakhulu njengoba uJehova wayetshilo esebenzisa umphrofethi wakhe.​—2 ImiLan. 32:7, 8; bala uMikha 5:5, 6.

14. URabishakhe wafika wenzani, njalo abantu bathini ngakho?

¹⁴ Inkosi yase-Asiriya yafika yamisa inkamba eLakhishi eyayiseningizimu-ntshonalanga kweJerusalema. Isuka lapho yathumela izithunywa ezintathu ukuthi ziyetshela abantu abasedolobheni ukuthi bazinikele ezandleni zenkosi yase-Asiriya. Isithunywa sakhe esikhulu esasibizwa ngokuthi nguRabishakhe sasebenzisa amaqhinga amanengi. Ekhuluma ngesiHebheru wazama ukuqila abantu ukuthi bahlamukele inkosi yabo bazinikele kuma-Asiriya, ebaqambela amanga esithi uzabathuthisa elizweni labo abase elizweni elihle abazahlala khona bekhomba ngophakathi. (Bala u-2 AmaKhosi 18:31, 32.) URabishakhe waphinda wabayenga esithi njengoba nje onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe babehlulekile ukunceda izikhonzi zabo, uJehova laye wayezakwehluleka ukukhulula amaJuda esandleni sama-Asiriya. Abantu bahlakanipha ngoba abazange bathatheke ngamanga la kanye lokunyundela lokhu. Izinceku zikaJehova zilokhu zisayisebenzisa indlela le kuze kube lamuhla.​—Bala u-2 AmaKhosi 18:35, 36.

15. Kuyini okwakufuneka ezakhamizini zaseJerusalema, futhi uJehova walisindisa njani idolobho lelo?

¹⁵ Kuyazwisiseka ukuthi uHezekhiya wayengabe edanile kodwa kazange alahle ithemba. Kulokuthi acele uncedo ezizweni wathumela ilizwi kumphrofethi u-Isaya. U-Isaya waphendula wathi: “Kayiyikungena [Inkosi uSenakheribi] kulumuzi loba itshoke umtshoko lapha.” (2 AmaKho. 19:32) Okwakufuneka ezakhamizini zeJerusalema yikuthi ziqhubeke zilesibindi zingakhalali. UJehova wayezabalwela abakoJuda. Lakanye wabalwela sibili. “Ngalobobusuku ingilosi kaJehova yaphuma yayabulala amadoda azinkulungwane ezilikhulu  lamatshumi aficamibili lanhlanu enkambeni yama-Asiriya.” (2 AmaKho. 19:35) Ukusindiswa kwamaJuda akuzange kulethwe yikuvala kukaHezekhiya imithombo yamanzi esedolobheni kanye lokwakha izinqaba zokuzivikela, kodwa kwabakhona ngokusizwa nguNkulunkulu.

16. Ngobani lamuhla abamelelwa (a) yizakhamizi zeJerusalema (b) “yi-Asiriya” (c) abelusi abayisikhombisa labakhokheli abaficamibili?

¹⁶ Isiphrofetho esimayelana labelusi abayisikhombisa labakhokheli abaficamibili sigcwaliseka ngokupheleleyo lamuhla. Izakhamizi zeJerusalema yasendulo zahlaselwa ngabase-Asiriya. Esikhathini esizayo esiseduze nje, abantu bakaJehova abakhanya bengavikelwanga bazahlaselwa “yi-Asiriya” yakulezinsuku, ihlose ukubathanyela baphele du. IMibhalo ikhuluma ngokuhlaselwa lokhu langokuhlasela ‘kukaGogi, owaselizweni laseMagogi,’ ukuhlasela ‘kwenkosi yasenyakatho’ langokuhlasela ‘kwamakhosi asemhlabeni.’ (Hez. 38:2, 10-13; Dan. 11:40, 44, 45; Isam. 17:14; 19:19) Ukuhlasela lokhu kwehlukene yini? Ngeke sitsho. IBhayibhili lingabe lisebenzisa amabizo angafananiyo kodwa likhuluma ngokuhlasela okukodwa. Yisiphi ‘isikhali esiyimfihlo’ esitshiwo yisiphrofetho sikaMikha uJehova ayezasisebenzisa ukulwisana “le-Asiriya,” isitha lesi esilesihluku? Yisikhali esingajayelekanga, ‘abelusi abayisikhombisa, kanye labakhokheli abaficamibili.’ (Mik. 5:5) Abelusi labakhokheli (kumbe “izikhulu,” NEB) kulelibutho elilamandla ngabadala bebandla. (1 Phet. 5:2) Lamuhla uJehova ukhethe amadoda amanengi amthandayo ukuthi abe ngabelusi bomhlambi wezimvu zakhe eziligugu, ukuze anike abantu bakhe isibindi sokulindela ukuhlasela okuzayo “kwe-Asiriya” yakulezinsuku. * Isiphrofetho sikaMikha silandisa ukuthi kuzakuba labelusi ‘abazabusa ilizwe lase-Asiriya ngenkemba.’ (Mik. 5:6) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ‘ezikhalini abalwa ngazo’ kutholakala ‘lenkemba yomoya,’ okutsho iLizwi likaNkulunkulu.​—2 Khor. 10:4; Efe. 6:17.

17. Yiziphi izifundo ezine abadala abangazithola endabeni ebesiyihluza?

¹⁷ Nxa ungumdala ubala isihloko lesi ungathola izifundo ezizakunceda endabeni esisanda kuyifunda: (1) Indlela esebenza ukwedlula zonke yokulindela ukuhlaselwa lokhu okuzayo “kwe-Asiriya” yikuqinisa ukholo lwethu kuNkulunkulu lokuncedisa abafowethu ukuthi baqinise olwabo. (2) Ngesikhathi “i-Asiriya” isihlasela, abadala kumele babe lokholo olupheleleyo lokuthi uJehova uzasisindisa. (3) Ngesikhathi leso, iziqondiso ezisindisa impilo esizithola enhlanganisweni kaJehova zingakhanya ingani kazisebenzi nxa sizikhangele. Sonke kumele sizimisele ukulalela iziqondiso esizazithola lanxa zingaze zizwakale angani azilangqondo. (4) Khathesi yisikhathi sokuthi loba yibaphi abangabe bethemba imfundo, inotho kumbe izinhlanganiso zabantu baqalise ukuntshintsha ukucabanga kwabo. Abadala kumele bahlale belindele ukuthi bancedise loba yibaphi abangabe sebelokholo oluxegayo.

18. Ukucabangisisa ngendaba kaHezekhiya kuzasinceda ngani esikhathini esizayo?

¹⁸ Isikhathi siyeza lapho izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zalamuhla zizakhanya ingani kazilasivikelo, njengamaJuda ayekhanya esegonjolozelwe, kungelasikhala sokuphuma eJerusalema ngezinsuku zikaHezekhiya. Ngesikhathi leso, kungaba kuhle nxa sonke singathola amandla emazwini kaHezekhiya. Asikhumbuleni ukuthi izitha zethu ‘zilengalo yenyama kuphela, kodwa thina siloJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukusisiza lokusilwela izimpi zethu.’​—2 ImiLan. 32:8.