AmaYuda ayesoloko emshiya uYehova, aze akhonze izithixo. Iminyaka emininzi uYehova wayezama ukuwanceda. Wathumela abaprofeti abaninzi ukuba bawalumkise, kodwa ayengamameli. Ayesuke ahlekise ngabo baprofeti. UYehova wakuphelisa njani ukukhonzwa kwezithixo?

Ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, uNebhukadenetsare, wayesoyisa zonke iintlanga awayesilwa nazo. Ekuqaleni woyisa iYerusalem, wathatha uKumkani uYehoyakin, iinkosana, amajoni anamandla namadoda angamachule, wabasa eBhabhiloni. Wathatha nabo bonke ubutyebi obusetempileni kaYehova. Emva koko wamisa uZedekiya ukuba abe ngukumkani wakwaYuda.

Ekuqaleni, uZedekiya wayemthobela uNebhukadenetsare. Kodwa iintlanga ezikufutshane naye nabaprofeti bobuxoki bamkhuthaza ukuba ajikele iBhabhiloni. UYeremiya wamlumkisa esithi: ‘Ukuba uyamjikela, baya kufa kakhulu abantu bakwaYuda, kubekho indlala nezifo.’

Emva kweminyaka eyi-8 elawula, uZedekiya wayijikela iBhabhiloni. Wacela ukuncediswa ngumkhosi waseYiputa. UNebhukadenetsare wathumela umkhosi ukuba uye kuhlasela iYerusalem, waza loo mkhosi wamisa iinkampu zawo apho. UYeremiya wathi kuZedekiya: ‘UYehova uthi ukuba uyanikezela kwiBhabhiloni, wena nabantu bale dolophu anizufa. Ukuba awunikezeli, iBhabhiloni iza kuyitshisa iYerusalem uze wena  uvalelwe ejele.’ UZedekiya wathi: ‘Soze ndinikezele!’

Emva konyaka oneenyanga eziyi-6, umkhosi waseBhabhiloni watyhoboza ngaphaya kweendonga zaseYerusalem waza wayitshisa. Watshisa itempile, wabulala abantu abaninzi waza waphosa abanye abaninzi ejele.

UZedekiya wabaleka, umkhosi waseBhabhiloni wamleqa. Wambamba kufuphi neYeriko, wamzisa kuNebhukadenetsare. Ukumkani waseBhabhiloni wamenza wabukela oonyana bakhe bebulawa. Emva koko wamtyhaphaza amehlo waza wamvalela ejele, wafela apho. UYehova wathembisa amaYuda esithi: ‘Emva kweminyaka eyi-70 ndiza kunibuyisela kwikhaya lenu, iYerusalem.’

Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni kubantu abasebatsha ababevalelwe eBhabhiloni? Ngaba babeza kuhlala benyanisekile kuYehova?