Uyamazi Yini UShafani Nomkhaya Wakhe?

LAPHO ufunda iBhayibheli, uye uzwe yini kukhulunywa ngoShafani nangamalungu omkhaya wakhe onethonya? Babengobani? Benzani? Zifundo zini esingazifunda kubo?

IBhayibheli liqala ukusitshela ‘ngoShafani indodana ka-Asaliya kaMeshulamu’ lapho likhuluma ngokuvuselela kukaJosiya ukukhulekela kweqiniso cishe ngo-642 B.C.E. (2 AmaKhosi 22:3) Phakathi neminyaka engu-36 eyalandela, kuze kube ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E., sitshelwa ngamadodana akhe amane, u-Ahikamu, u-Eleyasa, uGemariya noJahazaniya, nangabazukulu bakhe ababili, uMikhaya noGedaliya. (Bheka ishadi.) “Kwakugcwele umkhaya kaShafani embusweni [wakwaJuda] futhi usesikhundleni sababhali benkosi kusukela esikhathini sikaJosiya kuze kufike ekuDingisweni,” kuchaza i-Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ukubukeza lokho okushiwo iBhayibheli ngoShafani nomkhaya wakhe kuzosisiza siqonde indlela abamsekela ngayo umprofethi uJeremiya nokukhulekelwa kukaJehova.

UShafani Usekela Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso

Ngo-642 B.C.E., lapho iNkosi uJosiya ineminyaka engaba ngu-25 ubudala, sithola uShafani ekhonza njengonobhala nomkopishi wenkosi. (Jeremiya 36:10) Kwakuhilelani lokho? Le ncwadi eshiwo ngenhla ithi umbhali nonobhala wasebukhosini wayengumeluleki oseduze wenkosi, enakekela izimali, engumkhulumeli ochwepheshile, enolwazi lwezindaba zangaphandle, umthetho wamazwe, nezivumelwano zezohwebo. Ngakho, njengonobhala wasebukhosini, uShafani wayengenye yamadoda anethonya kakhulu embusweni.

Eminyakeni eyishumi ngaphambili, uJosiya osemncane ‘wayeqale ukufuna uNkulunkulu kaDavide uyise.’ Kusobala ukuthi uShafani wayemdala kakhulu kunoJosiya futhi ngaleso sizathu wakwazi ukuba umeluleki wakhe omuhle ezintweni ezingokomoya nokumsekela emkhankasweni wakhe wokuqala wokuvuselela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. *—2 IziKronike 34:1-8.

Phakathi nomsebenzi wokulungisa ithempeli kwatholakala “incwadi yomthetho,” futhi uShafani “wayifunda phambi kwenkosi.” UJosiya washaqeka ukuzwa ekuqukethe wayesethumela ithimba lamadoda ethenjwayo kumprofethikazi uHulida ukuba liyobuza kuJehova maqondana nale ncwadi. Inkosi yabonisa ukuthi iyamethemba uShafani nendodana yakhe u-Ahikamu ngokubafaka kuleli thimba.—2 AmaKhosi 22:8-14; 2 IziKronike 34:14-22.

Lena ukuphela kwendawo lapho imiBhalo ikhuluma khona ngalokho uShafani ngokwakhe akwenza. Kwamanye amavesi eBhayibheli, kukhulunywa ngaye ngokuthi uyise noma umkhulu wothile kuphela. Abantwana bakaShafani basebenzelana eduze nomprofethi uJeremiya.

U-Ahikamu NoGedaliya

Njengoba sesishilo, u-Ahikamu indodana kaShafani kukhulunywa ngaye ngokokuqala ngokuphathelene nethimba elalithunywe kumprofethikazi uHulida. Enye incwadi ithi: “Nakuba singashiwo isiqu sika-Ahikamu eBhayibhelini  lesiHeberu, kusobala ukuthi wayesesikhundleni esiphezulu.”

Eminyakeni engaba ngu-15 ngemva kwaleso senzakalo, ukuphila kukaJeremiya kwaba sengozini. Lapho exwayisa abantu ngenhloso kaJehova yokubhubhisa iJerusalema, “abapristi, nabaprofethi, nabantu bonke, bambamba, bathi: ‘Uyakufa nokufa.’” Kwabe sekwenzekani? Indaba iqhubeka ithi: “Kepha isandla sika-Ahikamu, indodana kaShafani, sasinoJeremiya ukuba bangamnikeli esandleni sabantu ukumbulala.” (Jeremiya 26:1-24) Kubonisani lokhu? I-Anchor Bible Dictionary ithi: “Lesi senzakalo asifakazeli nje kuphela ithonya u-Ahikamu ayenalo, kodwa futhi sibonisa ukuthi u-Ahikamu, njengamanye amalungu omkhaya kaShafani, wayenomusa kuJeremiya.”

Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-20 kamuva, ngemva kokuba abaseBabiloni bebhubhise iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. futhi bathumba abantu abaningi, umzukulu kaShafani uGedaliya, indodana ka-Ahikamu, wamiswa njengombusi wamaJuda ayesele. Ingabe naye, njengamanye amalungu omkhaya kaShafani, wamnakekela uJeremiya? Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuthi: “Wayesehamba uJeremiya, waya kuGedaliya, indodana ka-Ahikamu, eMispa, wahlala naye.” Kungakapheli izinyanga ezingaki, uGedaliya wabulawa, amaJuda ayesele amuka noJeremiya lapho eya eGibithe.—Jeremiya 40:5-7; 41:1, 2; 43:4-7.

UGemariya NoMikhaya

Indodana kaShafani uGemariya nomzukulu wakhe uMikhaya bavelela ezenzakalweni ezichazwe kuJeremiya isahluko 36. Kwakungawo-624 B.C.E., ngonyaka wesihlanu weNkosi uJehoyakimi. UBaruki, unobhala kaJeremiya, wafunda ngokuzwakalayo amazwi kaJeremiya endlini kaJehova, “ekamelweni likaGemariya indodana kaShafani.” Ngakho, “uMikhaya indodana kaGemariya kaShafani wezwa onke amazwi kule ncwadi.”—Jeremiya 36:9-11.

UMikhaya wazisa uyise nazo zonke izikhulu ngalo mqulu, zonke zafuna ukuzwa ukuthi uthini. Zasabela kanjani? “Kwathi lapho sezizwile onke amazwi, zaphendukelana ngokwesaba, kwaba yileso naleso kumakhelwane waso, zathi kuBaruki: ‘Siyakuyitshela nokuyitshela inkosi lawa mazwi.’” Nokho, ngaphambi kokukhuluma nenkosi zacebisa uBaruki zathi: “Hamba ucashe, wena noJeremiya, kungazi muntu lapho nikhona.”—Jeremiya 36:12-19.

Njengoba kwakulindelekile, inkosi yasenqaba isigijimi esisemqulwini yawushisa ngamacozucozu. Ezinye izikhulu, kuhlanganise nendodana kaShafani uGemariya, ‘zazikhulekile enkosini ukuba ingashisi umqulu, kepha  ayizizwanga.’ (Jeremiya 36:21-25) Incwadi ethi Jeremiah—An Archaeological Companion iphetha ngokuthi: “UGemariya wayengumsekeli oqinile kaJeremiya esigodlweni seNkosi uJehoyakimi.”

U-Eleyasa NoJahazaniya

Ngo-617 B.C.E., iBabiloni laqala ukulawula umbuso wakwaJuda. Izinkulungwane zamaJuda, “zonke izikhulu, nawo onke amaqhawe anamandla . . . nezinyanga zonke zemisebenzi, nabakhandi,” bathunjwa kanye nomprofethi uHezekeli. UMathaniya, abaseBabiloni abashintsha igama lakhe bathi uSedekiya, waba yinkosi entsha engaphansi kweBabiloni. (2 AmaKhosi 24:12-17) Kamuva uSedekiya wathuma ithimba eBabiloni okwakukhona kulo indodana kaShafani u-Eleyasa. UJeremiya waphathisa u-Eleyasa incwadi ayeyibhalele amaJuda athunjiwe eyayinomlayezo obalulekile ovela kuJehova.—Jeremiya 29:1-3.

Ngakho umlando weBhayibheli ubonisa ukuthi uShafani, amadodana akhe amathathu nabazukulu bakhe ababili basebenzisa izikhundla zabo ezinethonya ukuze basekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso nomprofethi othembekile uJeremiya. Kuthiwani ngendodana kaShafani enguJahazaniya? Ngokungafani namanye amalungu omkhaya kaShafani, kubonakala sengathi yena wayekhulekela izithombe. Ngonyaka wesithupha wokuthunjelwa kukaHezekeli eBabiloni, noma cishe ngo-612 B.C.E., lo mprofethi waba nombono abona kuwo amadoda angu-70 eshunqisela izithombe impepho ethempelini eliseJerusalema. Phakathi kwawo kwakukhona uJahazaniya, okunguye kuphela oshiwo ngegama. Lokhu kungasikisela ukuthi wayeyilungu elivelele laleli qembu. (Hezekeli 8:1, 9-12) Indaba kaJahazaniya ibonisa ukuthi ukukhuliswa emkhayeni owesaba uNkulunkulu akuqinisekisi ukuthi umuntu uyoba umkhulekeli kaJehova othembekile. Kuwumthwalo womuntu ngamunye ukuthi yini ayoyenza.—2 Korinte 5:10.

Ubufakazi Bokuthi UShafani Nomkhaya Wakhe Bake Baphila Ngempela

Ngesikhathi uShafani nomkhaya wakhe beba nengxenye ezenzakalweni zaseJerusalema, kwase kuvamile kwaJuda ukusetshenziswa kwezigxivizo. Izigxivizo zazisetshenziselwa ukuqinisekisa noma ukusayina izincwadi futhi zazenziwa ngamatshe ayigugu, insimbi, izinyo lendlovu, noma ingilazi. Ngokuvamile kwakuqoshwa kuzo igama lomniniso, igama likayise, ngezinye izikhathi nesikhundla sakhe umniniso.

 Kuye kwatholakala amakhulukhulu ezinto zobumba ezigxivizwe ngombhalo wesiHeberu. UProfesa Nahman Avigad, isazi semibhalo yakudala yesiHeberu, wathi: “Imibhalo yezigxivizo iwukuphela kwemibhalo yesiHeberu ekhuluma ngabantu esibazela eBhayibhelini.” Ikhona yini imibhalo yezigxivizo ekhuluma ngoShafani noma ngamalungu omkhaya wakhe eye yatholakala? Yebo, igama likaShafani nelikaGemariya indodana yakhe ayavela esigxivizweni esiboniswe emakhasini 19 no-21.

Izazi zithi futhi amanye amalungu, mhlawumbe amane, omkhaya kaShafani ashiwo kweminye imibhalo egxiviziwe—u-Azaliya, uyise kaShafani; u-Ahikamu indodana kaShafani; uGemariya indodana kaShafani; noGedaliya, okubonakala sengathi lo mbhalo wesigxivizo uthi ‘wayengamele iNdlu.’ Esesine kulezi zigxivizo kucatshangwa ukuthi kwakungesikaGedaliya, umzukulu kaShafani, nakuba uyise, u-Ahikamu, engashiwongo. Isiqu abizwa ngaso kulo mbhalo wesigxivizo sibonisa ukuthi wayengomunye wezikhulu eziphakeme embusweni.

Yini Esingayifunda?

UShafani nomkhaya wakhe basibekela isibonelo esihle kakhulu ngokusebenzisa izikhundla zabo ezinethonya ekusekeleni ukukhulekela kweqiniso kanye noJeremiya othembekile! Nathi singasebenzisa impahla yethu nethonya lethu ukuze sisekele inhlangano kaJehova nesikhulekela nabo.

Kuyasizuzisa futhi kusiqinise ukholo ukungagcini ngokulifunda njalo iBhayibheli kodwa futhi nokumba sijule futhi sibazi kangcono ofakazi bakaJehova basendulo abanjengoShafani namalungu omkhaya wakhe. Nabo bayingxenye ‘yefu elikhulu lofakazi’ esingalingisa isibonelo sabo.—Heberu 12:1.

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UHulida—Umprofethikazi Onethonya

Isifundelwé “incwadi yomthetho” eyatholakala ethempelini, iNkosi uJosiya yayala uShafani nezinye izikhulu ezine eziphakeme ukuba ‘ziyobuza kuJehova’ mayelana nale ncwadi. (2 AmaKhosi 22:8-20) Lalingayitholaphi impendulo leli thimba? UJeremiya cishe noNahume noZefaniya, abaprofethi nabalobi beBhayibheli, babehlala kwaJuda ngaleso sikhathi. Nokho, leli thimba laya kumprofethikazi uHulida.

Incwadi ethi Jerusalem—An Archaeological Biography ithi: “Into ephawulekayo ngalesi sigigaba ukuthi ukuya kwabesilisa kowesifazane kwakungesona neze isimanga. Akekho owacabanga ukuthi kwakungafaneleki nakancane ukuba ikomiti yamadoda kuphela iyise uMqulu woMthetho kowesifazane iyobuza ngawo. Lapho [lona wesifazane] ethi uyizwi leNkosi, akekho owangabaza igunya lakhe ekunqumeni kule ndaba. Ngokuvamile izazi azisinaki lesi senzakalo lapho zihlaziya indima yabesifazane kwa-Israyeli wasendulo.” Yebo, umyalezo wawuvela kuJehova.

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(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Uhlu Lozalo LukaShafani

UMeshulamu

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U-Asaliya

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UShafani

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U-Ahikamu U-Eleyasa UGemariya UJahazaniya

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UGedaliya UMikhaya

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UGemariya nabanye banxusa uJehoyakimi ukuba angawushisi umqulu ovela kuJeremiya

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Nakuba ayeyilungu lomkhaya kaShafani, uJahazaniya wabonakala embonweni ekhulekela izithombe

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Courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority

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Courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority