1. Iyiphi ingxenye yesiprofetho uJakobe ayisho esezokufa esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

 AMADODANA kaJakobe amzungezile, alalele ngokucophelela njengoba ubaba wawo osekhulile ebusisa ngayinye yawo. Njengoba kubonisiwe esihlokweni esidlule, amazwi uJakobe awasho kuRubeni, uSimeyoni, uLevi noJuda awahlaba umxhwele—mhlawumbe aze awamangaza nokuwamangaza—amadodana akhe. Ngakho kungenzeka ayezibuza ukuthi ingabe uJakobe uzothini kulawa amanye amadodana akhe angu-8. Ake sibone ukuthi yiziphi izifundo esingazifunda emazwini akhe awasho kuZebhuloni, u-Isakare, uDani, uGadi, u-Asheri, uNafetali, uJosefa noBhenjamini. a

UZEBHULONI

2. Chaza ukuthi yisiphi isibusiso esasiyotholwa abakwaZebhuloni nokuthi lokho kwagcwaliseka kanjani. (Genesise 49:13) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

² Funda uGenesise 49:13. UJakobe uveza ukuthi inzalo kaZebhuloni yayiyohlala ngasogwini lolwandle, ngasenyakatho yeZwe Lesithembiso. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-200 kamuva, abakwaZebhuloni bayithola indawo eyifa labo. Yayiphakathi koLwandle LwaseGalile neMedithera. UMose waprofetha: “O Zebhuloni, jabula ekuphumeni kwakho.” (Dut. 33:18) Kungenzeka lokhu kwakusho ukuthi kwakuyoba lula ngesizwe sakwaZebhuloni ukuba siye ogwini lolwandle ukuze siyothenga futhi sithengisele abanye ngoba sasiphakathi koLwandle LwaseGalile neMedithera. Kunoma yikuphi, inzalo kaZebhuloni yayinesizathu sokujabula.

3. Yini engasisiza ukuba saneliseke?

 ³ Yini esingayifunda? Sinesizathu sokujabula, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlala kuphi noma ukuthi izimo zethu zinjani. Ukuze sihlale sijabule, kumele saneliswe yilokho esinakho. (IHu. 16:6; 24:5) Ngezinye izikhathi kungaba lula ukugxila kulokho esingenakho kunokugxila ezintweni ezinhle esizijabulelayo. Ngakho zama ukubheka okuhle ezimweni zakho.—Gal. 6:4.

U-ISAKARE

4. Chaza ukuthi yisiphi isibusiso esasiyotholwa abakwa-Isakare nokuthi lokho kwagcwaliseka kanjani. (Genesise 49:​14, 15) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

⁴ Funda uGenesise 49:​14, 15. UJakobe uncoma u-Isakare ngokuba yisisebenzi esizikhandlayo ngokuthi amfanise nembongolo enamathambo aqinile—isilwane esingathwala imithwalo esindayo. UJakobe uphinde athi u-Isakare uyothola izwe elihle. Ngokuvumelana namazwi kaJakobe, inzalo ka-Isakare yathola indawo evundile nekhiqizayo ngaseMfuleni iJordani. (Josh. 19:22) Akungabazeki ukuthi yasebenza kanzima ukuze inakekele izwe layo, kodwa futhi yasebenza kanzima ukuze kuzuze nabanye. (1 AmaKh. 4:​7, 17) Ngokwesibonelo, isizwe sakwa-Isakare sasikulungele ukuba nengxenye ekulweni izimpi zakwa-Israyeli, njengalapho uMahluleli uBharaki nomprofethikazi uDebora becela ama-Israyeli ukuba abasize balwe noSisera.—AbaHl. 5:15

5. Kungani kufanele silwele ukuba yizisebenzi ezizikhandlayo?

⁵ Yini esingayifunda? UJehova uyakwazisa ukuzikhandla kwethu enkonzweni yakhe, njengoba nje ayekwazisa nokuzikhandla kwesizwe sakwa-Isakare. (UmSh. 2:24) Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngabazalwane abasebenza kanzima ukuze banakekele ibandla. (1 Thim. 3:1) Laba bazalwane akudingeki balwe izimpi ezingokoqobo, kodwa kumele basebenze ngokuzikhandla ukuze bavikele abantu bakaNkulunkulu ezintweni ezingalimaza ubuhlobo babo noJehova. (1 Kor. 5:​1, 5; Jude 17-23) Baphinde basebenze kanzima ukuze balungiselele futhi banikeze izinkulumo ezikhuthazayo ezizoqinisa ibandla.—1 Thim. 5:17.

UDANI

6. Yisiphi isabelo esatholwa yisizwe sakwaDani? (Genesise 49:​17, 18) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

⁶ Funda uGenesise 49:​17, 18. UJakobe ufanisa uDani nenyoka elwa nezilwane ezinkulu kunayo, njengehhashi lempi nomgibeli walo. Isizwe sakwaDani sasiyoba yingozi ezitheni zakwa-Israyeli. Ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli eya eZweni Lesithembiso, isizwe sakwaDani sawavikela ‘ngokwakha ibutho labaqaphi elisemuva.’ (Num. 10:25) Kwakuyisabelo esibalulekile leso, nakuba kungeyena wonke umuntu kuleso sizwe owayekwazi ukubona isabelo esasenziwa abakwaDani.

7. Yini eyiqiniso nganoma yisiphi isabelo esisenzayo?

⁷ Yini esingayifunda? Wake wasenza yini isabelo okwakubonakala sengathi abanye abasiqapheli? Mhlawumbe wawusiza ekuhlanzeni nasekunakekeleni iHholo LoMbuso, wavolontiyela ukusiza emhlanganweni wesigodi noma wesifunda, noma wenza omunye umsebenzi. Uma kunjalo, kuyancomeka lokho owakwenza! Hlale ukhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyakuqaphela konke omenzela kona futhi uyakwazisa. Ujabula nakakhulu lapho umkhonza ngoba ufuna ukumbonisa ukuthi umthanda ngokusuka enhliziyweni, hhayi ngoba ufuna abanye bakudumise.—Math. 6:​1-4.

UGADI

8. Yini eyayenza kube lula ukuba isizwe sakwaGadi sihlaselwe yizitha zaso eZweni Lesithembiso? (Genesise 49:19) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

⁸ Funda uGenesise 49:19. UJakobe wabikezela ukuthi iviyo labaphangi laliyohlasela  uGadi. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-200 kamuva, isizwe sakwaGadi sahlala ezweni elisempumalanga yoMfula iJordani—izwe elaliseduze nezizwe eziyizitha. Leyo ndawo yayenza kube lula ngesizwe sakwaGadi ukuba sihlaselwe yizitha. Noma kunjalo, abakwaGadi babefuna ukuhlala kuleyo ndawo ngoba yayinamadlelo akahle emfuyo yabo. (Num. 32:​1, 5) Kusobala ukuthi abakwaGadi babenesibindi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, babemethemba uJehova ukuthi wayeyobasiza bavikele izwe uNkulunkulu ayebanike lona kunoma yiliphi iviyo labaphangi. Iminyaka eminingi, bathumela ngisho amabutho abo ukuba ayosiza lezi ezinye izizwe ukuba zinqobe izitha zazo ezazisasele eZweni Lesithembiso entshonalanga yeJordani. (Num. 32:​16-19) Babemethemba uJehova ukuthi wayezovikela amakhosikazi abo nezingane zabo njengoba amadoda ayesahambile. UJehova wababusisa ngenxa yesibindi sabo nangokuzidela kwabo.—Josh. 22:​1-4.

9. Ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova kuyozithinta kanjani izinqumo esizenzayo?

⁹ Yini esingayifunda? Ukuze sikhonze uJehova lapho sibhekene nezinselele, kumele siqhubeke sithembela kuye. (IHu. 37:3) Abaningi namuhla babonisa ukuthi bayamethemba uJehova ngokuzidela ukuze basize ekwakheni izakhiwo zenhlangano, bakhonze endingekweni, noma basize ekwenzeni ezinye izabelo. Benza kanjalo ngoba bayaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyohlale ebanakekela.—IHu. 23:1.

 U-ASHERI

10. Yini abakwa-Asheri abahluleka ukuyenza? (Genesise 49:20) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

¹⁰ Funda uGenesise 49:20. UJakobe wabikezela ukuthi isizwe sakwa-Asheri sasiyoceba futhi yilokho kanye okwenzeka. Isabelo sesizwe sakwa-Asheri sasihlanganisa indawo eyayivunde kakhulu kulo lonke elakwa-Israyeli. (Dut. 33:24) Indawo yabo yayiseduze noLwandle iMedithera futhi yayihlanganisa netheku laseSidoni elicebile. Nokho, abakwa-Asheri bahluleka ukuxosha amaKhanani kulelo zwe. (AbaHl. 1:​31, 32) Ithonya elibi lamaKhanani nengcebo yabakwa-Asheri kungenzeka kwabangela lesi sizwe ukuba singabe sisakushisekela ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela emsulwa. Abakwa-Asheri abazange bamsize uMahluleli uBharaki ngesikhathi efuna abazomsiza alwe namabutho amaKhanani. Ngenxa yalokho, abazange bazibone izimangaliso uJehova azenza ukuze asize ama-Israyeli anqobe “ngasemachibini aseMegido.” (AbaHl. 5:​19-21) Kumele ukuba kwababangela amahloni abakwa-Asheri ukuzwa ingoma yokunqoba eyayiculwa uBharaki noDebora eyayinamazwi athi: “U-Asheri wazihlalela nje ogwini lolwandle.”—AbaHl. 5:17.

11. Kungani kudingeka sihlale sinombono olinganiselayo ngezinto zaleli zwe?

¹¹ Yini esingayifunda? Sifuna ukunika uJehova okungcono kakhulu. Ukuze senze kanjalo, kudingeka siwenqabe umbono waleli zwe  wokucabanga ukuthi ukuphila okuntofontofo nokuba nezinto eziningi iyona nto ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni. (IzAga 18:11) Silwela ukuba nombono olinganiselayo ngemali. (UmSh. 7:12; Heb. 13:5) Asikuvumeli ukufuna izinto zaleli zwe ezingenasidingo kusenze singamkhonzi uNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, sifuna ukwenza konke esingakwenza ukuze sisebenzise isikhathi sethu namandla ethu ekukhonzeni uJehova manje, sazi ukuthi siyophila kamnandi futhi siyolondeka ngempela esikhathini esizayo.—IHu. 4:8.

UNAFETALI

12. Iyiphi indlela okungenzeka agcwaliseka ngayo amazwi uJakobe awasho kuNafetali? (Genesise 49:21) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

¹² Funda uGenesise 49:21. UJakobe wathi uNafetali wayeyokhuluma “amazwi obugagu.” Lokhu kungabhekisela endleleni uJesu ayekhuluma ngayo phakathi nenkonzo yakhe. UJesu, owayaziwa ngokuba umfundisi ophumelelayo, wenza iKapernawume eyayisendaweni yabakwaNafetali ‘idolobha lakubo.’ (Math. 4:13; 9:1; Joh. 7:46) Ekhuluma ngoJesu, u-Isaya waprofetha ukuthi abantu bakwaZebhuloni nabakwaNafetali babeyobona “ukukhanya okukhulu.” (Isaya 9:​1, 2) UJesu ‘wayewukukhanya kweqiniso okunika zonke izinhlobo zabantu ukukhanya’ ngendlela ayefundisa ngayo.—Joh. 1:9.

13. Singaqikelela kanjani ukuthi lokho esikushoyo kuyamjabulisa uJehova?

¹³ Yini esingayifunda? UJehova unendaba nalokho esikushoyo nendlela esikusho ngayo. Singawakhuluma kanjani “amazwi obugagu” ajabulisa uJehova? Lokho singakwenza ngokukhuluma iqiniso. (IHu. 15:​1, 2) Singakhuthaza abanye ngalokho esikushoyo ngokuthi sisheshe ukubancoma kodwa singasheshi ukugxeka noma ukukhononda. (Efe. 4:29) Singazibekela nomgomo wokuthuthukisa ikhono lokuqalisa izingxoxo elingasenza sikwazi ukushumayela.

UJOSEFA

14. Chaza ukuthi sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esimayelana noJosefa. (Genesise 49:​22, 26) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

¹⁴ Funda uGenesise 49:​22, 26. Kumele ukuba uJakobe wayeziqhenya ngempela ngoJosefa—uJehova ‘ayemkhethe kubafowabo’ futhi wamsebenzisa ngendlela ekhethekile. UJakobe wambiza ngokuthi “uyigatsha lesihlahla esithelayo.” UJakobe yena wayeyisihlahla futhi uJosefa wayeyigatsha laleso sihlahla. UJosefa wayeyizibulo lomkaJakobe othandekayo uRaheli. UJakobe waprofetha ukuthi uJosefa wayeyothola ifa lobuzibulo okwakufanele litholwe uRubeni owayeyindodana kaJakobe yokuqala ayithola kumkakhe uLeya. (Gen. 48:​5, 6; 1 IziKr. 5:​1, 2) Le ngxenye yesiprofetho yagcwaliseka lapho amadodana amabili kaJosefa, u-Efrayimi noManase, beba yizizwe ezimbili zakwa-Israyeli futhi ngasinye salesi sizwe sathola indawo yaso.—Gen. 49:25; Josh. 14:4.

15. Wenzenjani uJosefa lapho ephathwa ngendlela engenabulungisa?

¹⁵ UJakobe wakhuluma nangabacibi ‘ababeciba [uJosefa], beqhubeka bemfukamelela inzondo.’ (Gen. 49:23) Labo kwakungabafowabo bakaJosefa ababenomona ngaye, abamphatha ngendlela engenabulungisa, benza nokuba ehlelwe yizinto eziningi ezibuhlungu. Noma kunjalo, uJosefa akazange abathukuthelele abafowabo noma athukuthelele uJehova. Njengoba uJakobe asho: “Umnsalo [kaJosefa] wawulokhu usendaweni yawo, izandla zakhe zaziqinile futhi zishesha.” (Gen. 49:24) UJosefa wancika kuJehova ngesikhathi ebhekene novivinyo futhi akagcinanga nje ngokuthethelela abafowabo, kodwa wabaphatha ngomusa. (Gen. 47:​11, 12) UJosefa wavumela  uvivinyo ayebhekene nalo ukuba lumenze abe umuntu ongcono. (IHu. 105:​17-19) Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wakwazi ukumsebenzisa ukuba enze izinto eziningi ezinkulu.

16. Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaJosefa lapho sibhekene novivinyo?

¹⁶ Yini esingayifunda? Kwangathi singelokothe sivumele uvivinyo lusiqhelise kuJehova noma kwesikholwa nabo. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova angase avumele ukuba ukholo lwethu luvivinywe ukuze asiqeqeshe. (Heb. 12:​7, mbhw.) Lokho kuqeqeshwa kungasisiza sibe nezimfanelo zobuKristu ezinjengesihe nokuthethelela, kusisize nokuba sizithuthukise lezo zimfanelo. (Heb. 12:11) UJehova uyosivuza ngokukhuthazela kwethu, njengoba nje enza nakuJosefa.

UBHENJAMINI

17. Sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esimayelana noBhenjamini? (Genesise 49:27) (Bheka  nebhokisi.)

¹⁷ Funda uGenesise 49:27. UJakobe wabikezela ukuthi abakwaBhenjamini babeyoba amaqhawe njengempisi. (AbaHl. 20:​15, 16; 1 IziKr. 12:2) USawule, inkosi yokuqala yakwa-Israyeli, wayevela esizweni sakwaBhenjamini. Ngesibindi, walwa namaFilisti. (1 Sam. 9:​15-17, 21) Kamuva ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, iNdlovukazi u-Esteri noNdunankulu uMoridekayi, ababevela esizweni sakwaBhenjamini, basindisa ama-Israyeli ekuqothulweni uMbuso WasePheresiya.—Est. 2:​5-7; 8:3; 10:3.

18. Singaba kanjani qotho emalungiselelweni kaJehova njengesizwe sakwaBhenjamini?

¹⁸ Yini esingayifunda? Akungabazeki ukuthi abakwaBhenjamini bajabula kakhulu lapho uSawulu owayevela esizweni sabo eba yinkosi. Nokho, lapho uJehova edlulisela ubukhosi kuDavide owayengowesizwe sakwaJuda, abakwaBhenjamini bagcina belwamukela lolo shintsho. (2 Sam. 3:​17-19) Emashumini eminyaka kamuva lapho ezinye izizwe zivukela, abakwaBhenjamini baba qotho basekela uJuda nenkosi eyayimiswe uJehova. (1 AmaKh. 11:​31, 32; 12:​19, 21) Kwangathi nathi singabasekela ngobuqotho labo uJehova abamisile ukuba bahole abantu bakhe namuhla.—1 Thes. 5:12.

19. Singazuza kanjani esiprofethweni uJakobe asisho esezokufa?

¹⁹ Isiprofetho uJakobe asisho esezokufa singasizuzisa. Ukuhlola indlela esagcwaliseka ngayo kusenza sikukholelwe nakakhulu ukuthi nezinye iziprofetho eziseZwini likaJehova ziyogcwaliseka nakanjani. Ukucabanga ngendlela amadodana kaJakobe abusiswa ngayo kusenza sikuqonde kangcono ukuthi singamjabulisa kanjani uJehova.