1-3. (a) Kungani kungenteka kutsi Esta wativa esaba njengobe abesondzela endvodzeni yakhe? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo mayelana na-Esta?

ESTA abetama kwehlisa umoya njengobe asondzela ebaleni lesigodlo saseSusa. Loko labekwenta bekungasimelula. Konkhe lobekukulesigodlo bekwenta umuntfu abambe longentansi​—bekunetitfombe tematje letimibalabala tetinkunzi letinetimphiko, bantfu labadubula ngebutjoki, kanye nemabhubesi lentiwe ngetitini leticwebetelako, bekuphindze kube netinsika tematje nemifanekiso leyetfusako. Lesigodlo besakhiwe endzaweni lebekile lesedvute netiNtsaba taseZagros letimbonywe sitfwatfwa, futsi besibuke ngasemfuleni iChoaspes lenemanti lahlantekile. Konkhe loku bekwentelwe kukhumbuta tivakashi ngemandla lamakhulu alendvodza Esta labetele kuteyibona, lebeyitibita ngekutsi “yinkhosi lenkhulu.” Lomuntfu abeyindvodza ya-Esta.

² Abeyindvodza yakhe? Ahashiveroshi abehluke kakhulu kunobe nguyiphi indvodza intfombatana lengumJuda letsembekile lebeyingafisa kushada nayo. * Abengatilandzeli tibonelo letinjengesa-Abrahama, indvodza letfobekile leyasemukela sicondziso saNkulunkulu sekutsi alalele loko lokwakushiwo nguSara umfati wakhe. (Gen. 21:12) Lenkhosi beyati lokuncane nobe beyingati lutfo ngaNkulunkulu wa-Esta, Jehova, nobe uMtsetfo waKhe. Kodvwa Ahashiveroshi bekati umtsetfo wasePheresiya, lohlanganisa umtsetfo lobewungavumeli kutsi kwentiwe loko Esta labetawukwenta. Bekuyini loko? Lomtsetfo bewutsi nobe ngubani lota embikwenkhosi yasePheresiya angakavunyelwa ngiyo, bekufanele afe. Esta abengakabitwa, kodvwa waya enkhosini nangetulu kwaloko. Njengobe asondzela emabaleni alesigodlo, lapho labetawubonakala khona esihlalweni sebukhosi, kungenteka weva shengatsi leli bekulilanga lakhe lekufa.​—Fundza Esta 4:11; 5:1.

³ Kungani Esta atifaka engotini lengaka? Yini lesingayifundza ekukholweni kwalomfati lomangalisako? Kwekucala, asesibone  kutsi kwenteka njani kutsi Esta agcine abe yindlovukazi yasePheresiya.

4. Esta wakhula njani, futsi kwenteka njani kutsi agcine asahlala nemnakabo longuModekhayi?

⁴ Esta abeyintsandzane, futsi kuncane lesikwatiko ngebatali bakhe labametsa batsi nguHadasa, lokuligama lesiHebheru lelisho “umbovana,” sihlahlana lesihle lesichakata timbali letimhlophe. Ngesikhatsi batali ba-Esta bafa, lomunye wetihlobo takhe, lokunguModekhayi indvodza lenemusa, wamtsatsa wamnakekela. Modekhayi abengumnakabo Esta, nanobe yena abemdzala kunaye. Watsatsa Esta wamletsa ekhaya lakhe futsi wamphatsa njengendvodzakati yakhe.​—Esta 2:5-7, 15.

5, 6. (a) Modekhayi wamkhulisa njani Esta? (b) Beyinjani imphilo bo-Esta naModekhayi lebebayiphila eSusa?

⁵ BoModekhayi na-Esta bebatitfunjwa letingemaJuda letihlala enhloko dolobha yasePheresiya, futsi kungenteka bebahlangabetana nelubandlululo lolukhulu ngenca yenkholo yabo neMtsetfo lebebawugcina. Kancane kancane, Esta wasondzelana nemnakabo njengobe abemfundzisa ngaJehova, Nkulunkulu lonemusa lowasindzisa bantfu baKhe etinkingeni tikhatsi letinyenti, futsi labesatawuchubeka akwenta loko. (Lev. 26:44, 45) Kuyacaca kutsi bo-Esta naModekhayi bachubeka batsandzana futsi betsembana.

⁶ Kubonakala shengatsi Modekhayi abeyindvuna esigodlweni saseSusa, futsi abevame kuhlala ngasesangweni, akanye naletinye tisebenti tenkhosi. (Esta 2:19, 21; 3:3) Asati kutsi kuphila kwa-Esta bekunjani asakhula, nanobe kunjalo, singacabanga nje kutsi abenakekela umnakabo kanye nelikhaya lakubo, lokungenteka kutsi belisencenyeni yelidolobha lehlala timphuya lebeyingesheya kwemfula lobuke sigodlo. Mhlawumbe abekujabulela kuya emakethe leseSusa, lebekutfolakala khona labasebenta ngeligolide nelisiva, kanye nalabanye batsengisi labakhangisa ngetintfo tabo. Esta abengeke acabange kutsi bukhatikhati lobunjalo ngalelinye lilanga bebutawuba bakhe; abengati kutsi likusasa limphatseleni.

7. Kungani Vashti ayekeliswa kuba yindlovukazi, futsi yini leyenteka ngemuva kwaloko?

⁷ Ngalelinye lilanga eSusa, kwagcwala emahemuhemu lamayelana nekutsi bekusuke siphitsiphitsi esigodlweni. Ngesikhatsi Ahashiveroshi ente siphihli selidzili futsi ajabulisa tiphatsimandla takhe ngekudla lokumnandzi nangeliwayini, wancuma kubita Vashti, indlovukazi yakhe lenhle, lebeyikulelinye lidzili nebafati. Kodvwa Vashti wala kuta. Ngenca yekutsi beyitiva ihlazekile futsi itfukutsele, inkhosi yabuta beluleki bayo kutsi imjezise njani Vashti. Yini leyenteka? Vashti wayekeliswa kuba yindlovukazi. Tinceku tenkhosi tacala umkhankaso wekufuna tintfombi letinhle eveni lonkhe, futsi kuto inkhosi beyitawukhetsa indlovukazi lensha.​—Esta 1:1–2:4.

8. (a) Kungani kungenteka kutsi Modekhayi wativa akhatsateka njengobe Esta akhula? (b) Ucabanga kutsi singawusebentisa njani umbono weliBhayibheli lolinganiselako ngebuhle bangaphandle? (Fundza neTaga 31:30.)

⁸ Singase simcabange Modekhayi abuke Esta ativa atigcabha ngaye futsi akhatsateka njengobe abona kutsi dzadzewabo sewukhulile, nekutsi sewuyintfombi lenhle kakhulu. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Lo-Esta . . . , abemuhle eme kahle.” (Esta 2:7) LiBhayibheli linembono lolinganiselako mayelana nebuhle bangaphandle​—litsi buyatsandzeka, kodvwa kufanele buhambisane nekuhlakanipha kanye nekutfobeka. Nakungasinjalo, bungaveta kudvwala nekutigcabha, kanye naleminye imikhuba lemibi. (Fundza Taga 11:22.) Uke wakubona yini loko kwenteka? Endzabeni ya-Esta, buhle bakhe bebutawuba lusito yini nobe bebutawumenta atigcabhe? Loku bekutawubonakala njengobe sikhatsi sichubeka.

9. (a) Yini leyenteka ngesikhatsi tinceku tenkhosi tibona Esta, futsi kungani kungenteka kutsi kwehlukana kwakhe naModekhayi kwaba matima? (b) Kungani Modekhayi avuma kutsi Esta ashade nemuntfu wetive longakholwa? (Fundza nelibhokisi.)

⁹ Tinceku tenkhosi tambona Esta. Njengobe betikulomkhankaso, tamtsatsa kuModekhayi taya naye esigodlweni lesikhulu lesingesheya kwemfula. (Esta 2:8) Kufanele kutsi kwaba matima kuhlukana kwabo, ngobe besebafana nababe nendvodzakati yakhe. Modekhayi abengeke avume kutsi indvodzakati yakhe ishade nemuntfu longakholwa, ngisho nobe ayinkhosi, kodvwa timo lebetikhona betingetulu kwemandla akhe. * Kufanele kutsi Esta wasilalelisisa seluleko saModekhayi ngembikwekutsi ahambe. Njengobe aya esigodlweni saseSusa, abetibuta imibuto leminyenti. Injani imphilo lebeyimlindzele?

10, 11. (a) Indzawo Esta labesakuyo kungenteka kutsi beyingamtsintsa njani? (b) Modekhayi wakuveta njani kukhatsateka kwakhe ngenhlalakahle ya-Esta?

¹⁰ Esta watikhandza asendzaweni leyehluke kakhulu kuleyo labeyati. Abesemkhatsini ‘wemantfombatana lamanyenti’ labetsatfwe kuto tonkhe tindzawo teMbuso wasePheresiya. Emasiko awo, tilwimi kanye nekucabanga kwawo bekwehluke kakhulu. Lamantfombatana abenakekelwa yindvuna libito layo lokutsiwa nguHegayi, futsi bekufanele abe seluhlelweni lwekumonyongwa lelitsatsa umnyaka wonkhe, lebelihlanganisa kugcotjiswa ngemakha lamnandzi. (Esta 2:8, 12) Lesimo sendzawo kanye nendlela yekuphila bekungenta lamantfombatana akhatsateke kakhulu ngekubukeka kwawo, futsi kuwente advwale aphindze ancintisane. Esta kwamtsintsa njani kuba kulendzawo?

¹¹ Kute lomunye emhlabeni labekhatsateke kakhulu nga-Esta kwendlula Modekhayi. Sifundza kutsi malanga onkhe abetama  kusondzela kulendlu lebeyinalamantfombatana, futsi abetimisele kuva ngenhlalakahle ya-Esta. (Esta 2:11) Njengobe abetfola imininingwane letsite, lobekungenteka abeyitfola etisebentini talapho, kufanele kutsi abetigcabha kakhulu nga-Esta. Kungani bekunjalo?

12, 13. (a) Esta watiphatsa njani emkhatsini walabo labenabo? (b) Kungani Modekhayi ajabula nakeva kutsi Esta abengakakwembuli kuba kwakhe ngumJuda?

¹² Hegayi wajabula kakhulu nga-Esta kangangekutsi wacala kumphatsa ngelutsandvo nangemusa lomkhulu, wamnika tincekukati letisikhombisa nendzawo lekhetsekile endlini yemantfombatana. Kulandzisa kuze kutsi: ‘Esta-ke abetsandvwa nguwo wonkhe umuntfu.’ (Esta 2:9, 15) Kungenteka yini kutsi buhle bakhe ngibo kuphela lobenta bantfu bamtsandza kakhulu? Cha, akusibo kuphela lobamenta watsandzeka.

¹³ Nasi sibonelo, liBhayibheli litsi: “Esta akazange ayitsi vu indzaba yekutsi usive sini, ngobe phela Modekhayi abetsite angaboyikhuluma leyo, kutsi uliJuda.” (Esta 2:10) Modekhayi abemtjele  kutsi bekufanele ahlakaniphe, angakwembuli kuba kwakhe ngumJuda; kungenteka abebonile kutsi bantfu labasesigodlweni sasePheresiya bebabatondza kangakanani bantfu bakubo. Ngako wajabula kakhulu nakatfola kutsi kudzimate kube nguleso sikhatsi Esta abesakuveta kuhlakanipha nekulalela ngisho nobe angekho embikwakhe.

14. Bantfu labasha lamuhla bangasilingisa njani sibonelo sa-Esta?

¹⁴ Bantfu labasha lamuhla bangabajabulisa ngendlela lefanako batali babo kanye nalabo lababakhulisako. Nabangekho embikwebatali babo​—ngisho nobe basemkhatsini webantfu labangenangcondvo, labatiphatsa kabi nobe labakhohlakele—​bangamelana nekuyengelwa kwenta lokubi futsi banamatsele etimisweni letilungile. Nabenta njalo, nabo njenga-Esta bangayijabulisa inhlitiyo yaBabe wabo losezulwini.​—Fundza Taga 27:11.

15, 16. (a) Esta wayenta njani inkhosi kutsi imtsandze? (b) Kungani kungenteka kutsi imphilo ya-Esta lensha yaba yinsayeya?

¹⁵ Kwatsi nasekufike sikhatsi sekutsi Esta ayiswe enkhosini, waniketwa inkhululeko yekukhetsa tintfo labecabanga kutsi utatidzinga kute atente abe muhle kakhulu. Kodvwa ngekutfobeka akazange acele lutfo ngaphandle kwaloko Hegayi labemtjele kona. (Esta 2:15) Kungenteka wacaphela kutsi buhle bakhe bubodvwa bebungeke bumente atsandvwe yinkhosi, kodvwa umoya wekuzitsa nekutfobeka bekungiwo lobalulekile ngobe bewungakavami kubantfu labasesigodlweni. Abecinisile yini ngaloko?

¹⁶ Lokulandzisa kuyaphendvula: “Inkhosi yatsatseka nga-Esta, kwendlula onkhe lawa lamanye emantfombatana. Yatsandza Esta ngetulu kwawo onkhe emantfombatana, ngako yamkhetsa emkhatsini wawo yametfwesa umchele webukhosi, yambeka waba yinkhosikati lenkhulu esikhundleni saVashti.” (Esta 2:17) Kungenteka bekumatima ngalentfombatana letfobekile lengumJuda kwetayela lemphilo lensha​—beseyiyindlovukazi lensha, umfati wenkhosi lebeyinemandla kakhulu emhlabeni wonkhe ngaleso sikhatsi! Sikhundla sakhe lesisha samenta watibona ancono yini, futsi watigcabha? Cha asizange!

17. (a) Esta wachubeka njani atitfoba kubabe wakhe lowamkhulisa? (b) Kungani sibonelo sa-Esta sibalulekile kitsi lamuhla?

¹⁷ Esta wachubeka atitfoba kuModekhayi, babe wakhe labemkhulisile. Wakugcina kuyimfihlo kuhlobana kwakhe nemaJuda. Ngetulu kwaloko, ngesikhatsi Modekhayi embula licebo lekubulala inkhosi Ahashiveroshi, Esta wamlalela wase wecwayisa inkhosi, futsi lamacili abulawa. (Esta 2:20-23) Waphindze waveta kukholwa kuNkulunkulu wakhe ngekukhombisa kutfobeka, nekulalela. Nalamuhla, siyasidzinga sibonelo sa-Esta njengobe kulalela kutsatfwa njengentfo lengakabaluleki futsi kugcwele kwedzelela nekuvukela! Kodvwa bantfu labanekukholwa lokucotfo bakutsatsa njengeligugu kulalela, njengobe kwenta Esta.

18. (a) Yini lokungenteka kutsi yenta Modekhayi wala kukhotsamela Hamani? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.) (b) Emadvodza kanye nebafati labanekukholwa basilingisa njani sibonelo saModekhayi lamuhla?

¹⁸ Indvodza lokutsiwa nguHamani yanikwa sikhundla lesisetulu esigodlweni sa-Ahashiveroshi. Inkhosi yamenta ndvunankhulu, futsi waba ngumeluleki lomkhulu nemuntfu wesibili lobalulekile ebukhosini. Inkhosi yaze yashaya nemtsetfo lotsi bonkhe lababona lendvuna kufanele bayikhotsamele. (Esta 3:1-4) Kwaba matima ngaModekhayi kuwulalela lomtsetfo. Bekati kutsi kufanele ayilalele inkhosi kodvwa hhayi nangabe loko kusho kwedzelela Nkulunkulu. Phela Hamani ‘abengumAgagi,’ lobekusho kutsi abeyintalelwane ya-Agagi, inkhosi lengumAmaleki leyabulawa nguSamuweli umphrofethi waNkulunkulu. (1 Sam. 15:33) Sive sema-Amaleki besenta tintfo letimbi kangangekutsi saba sitsa saJehova nesema-Israyeli. Nkulunkulu wasilahla sive sema-Amaleki. * (Dut. 25:19) Ngako-ke, umJuda lowetsembekile abengamkhotsamela njani umAmaleki? Modekhayi abengeke akwente loko. Wachubeka angavumi kumkhotsamela. Kute kube ngulamuhla, emadvodza kanye nebafati labanekukholwa, bafake kuphila kwabo engotini kute balalele lomyalo lotsi: “Kufanele silalele Nkulunkulu njengobe angumbusi kunekutsi silalele bantfu.”​—Imis. 5:29.

19. Yini Hamani labefuna kuyenta, futsi yini layenta kute ancenge inkhosi?

¹⁹ Hamani watfukutsela wabilelana. Akazange enetiswe kufuna indlela yekubulala Modekhayi kuphela, kodvwa abefuna kuwabulala onkhe emaJuda! Hamani wancenga inkhosi ngekutsi akhulume kabi ngemaJuda. Ngaphandle kwekuwasho ngeligama, watsi abantfu lababi, futsi ‘asive lesisakateke nalo lonkhe lelive.’ Lokubi nakakhulu kutsi watsi awazange awulalele umtsetfo wenkhosi; nekutsi abetihlubuki letiyingoti. Watsi utawufaka samba semali esikhwameni senkhosi kute ikhokhele tindleko tekubulawa kwemaJuda lakulo lonkhe lelive. * Ahashiveroshi wase unika Hamani indandatho yakhe leluphawu lwekutsi uyavumelana nanobe yini lacabanga kuyenta.​—Esta 3:5-10.

20, 21. (a) Simemetelo saHamani sawatsintsa njani emaJuda labengephansi kweMbuso wasePheresiya, lokufaka ekhatsi Modekhayi? (b) Modekhayi wacela Esta kutsi enteni?

²⁰ Ngekushesha titfunywa besetigijima ngemahhashi ato kulo  lonkhe live, tetfula lesimemetelo lebesimayelana nekubulawa kwemaJuda. Cabanga nje kutsi lesimemetelo saba namuphi umphumela nasifika eJerusalema, lapho emaJuda labebuya ekutfunjweni baseBhabhulona abesolo etama kuvuselela lidolobha lebelite lubondza lebelingalivikela. Kungenteka kutsi ngesikhatsi Modekhayi eva letindzaba letibuhlungu wacabanga ngalamaJuda, ngebangani bakhe nangetihlobo takhe lebetiseSusa. Ngenca yekukhatsateka, wadzabula timphahla takhe, wagcoka emasaka futsi watitsela ngemlotsa enhloko, wase ukhala kabuhlungu ekhatsi nelidolobha. Nobe kunjalo, Hamani wahlala nenkhosi wanatsa nayo, angenandzaba nebuhlungu labebubangele emaJuda lamanyenti kanye nebangani bawo labaseSusa.​—Fundza Esta 3:12–4:1.

²¹ Modekhayi wabona kutsi kufanele ente lokutsite kute asindzise emaJuda. Abetawentani? Esta weva ngekucindzeteleka kwakhe wase umtfumelela timphahla, kodvwa Modekhayi akazange avume kudvudvutwa. Kungenteka abesolo atibuta kutsi kungani Nkulunkulu wakhe, Jehova avumele kutsi Esta ehlukaniswe naye futsi entiwe indlovukazi yalombusi wetive. Nyalo sizatfu saloko besesitawucaca. Modekhayi watfumela umlayeto ku-Esta amcela kutsi abancengele enkhosini, amelele ‘sive sakubo.’​—Esta 4:4-8.

22. Yini leyenta Esta wesaba kuya endvodzeni yakhe leyinkhosi? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

 ²² Kungenteka kutsi Esta wakhatsateka kakhulu nakeva lomlayeto. Kukholwa kwakhe besekutawuvivinywa kakhulu. Abesaba njengobe asho nakaphendvula Modekhayi. Wamkhumbuta ngemtsetfo wenkhosi, wekutsi kuya kwemuntfu enkhosini ingakambiti kusho kufa. Umuntfu abengasindza kuphela nangabe inkhosi imphakamisela indvuku yebukhosi yeligolide. Besikhona yini sizatfu sekutsi Esta acabange kutsi angasindza, ikakhulukati nakacabanga ngaloko lokwehlela Vashti ngesikhatsi ala kuya enkhosini nayimbita? Esta watjela Modekhayi kutsi besekuphele emalanga langu-30 solo inkhosi ingambiti! Kunganakwa ngalendlela kwamenta waba netizatfu letinyenti tekucabanga kutsi lenkhosi lenemivelo leshintjashintjako beseyingasamtsandzi. *​—Esta 4:9-11.

23. (a) Yini Modekhayi layisho kute acinise kukholwa kwa-Esta? (b) Kungani kufanele simlingise Modekhayi?

²³ Modekhayi waphendvula ngesibindzi kute acinise kukholwa kwa-Esta. Wamcinisekisa ngekutsi nangabe ehluleka kwenta lokutsite, kusindziswa kwemaJuda bekutawuvela kulenye indzawo. Kodvwa Esta abengakulindzela njani kutsi utawusindza nasekucalile kuhlushwa kwemaJuda? Nalapho, Modekhayi wakhombisa kwetsembela kwakhe kakhulu kuJehova, labengeke avumele bantfu bakhe bacedvwe futsi netetsembiso takhe tingagcwaliseki. (Josh. 23:14) Modekhayi wase ubuta Esta, watsi: “Empeleni, ngubani nje lowatiko kutsi mhlawumbe wena wentelwa sona lesikhatsi kutsi ube yinkhosikati lenkhulu?” (Esta 4:12-14) Kufanele simlingise Modekhayi ngobe wetsembela ngalokuphelele kuNkulunkulu wakhe Jehova. Siyakwenta yini tsine loku?​—Taga 3:5, 6.

24. Esta wakukhombisa njani kukholwa nesibindzi?

²⁴ Besesifikile sikhatsi sekutsi Esta ente sincumo. Wacela Modekhayi kutsi atjele bantfu bakubo bazile naye emalanga lamatsatfu, kulomlayeto wakhe waphetsa ngalamavi lasasebenta nalamuhla laveta kukholwa nesibindzi, latsi: “Nangabe ngiyafa, ngife kube kanye.” (Esta 4:15-17) Kungenteka kutsi wathantaza ngekutimisela tikhatsi letinyenti kulamalanga lamatsatfu kwendlula nobe ngabe ngusiphi sikhatsi ekuphileni kwakhe. Ekugcineni, sefika leso sikhatsi. Wagcoka ingubo yakhe lenhle kakhulu yasebukhosini, wenta konkhe lokusemandleni akhe kutsi abukeke amuhle enkhosini. Wase uyahamba.

25. Chaza lokwenteka ngesikhatsi Esta aya endvodzeni yakhe.

²⁵ Njengobe kuchaziwe ekucaleni kwalesehluko, Esta waya esigodlweni senkhosi. Singacabanga ngekwetfuka nemithantazo lebeyisolo isenhlitiyweni nasengcondvweni yakhe. Wangena emabaleni lapho labengabona khona Ahashiveroshi ahleti esihlalweni sakhe sebukhosi. Kungenteka kutsi wetama kubuka buso bakhe kute abone kutsi ukusiphi simo. Nangabe bekutawudzingeka alindze, bekutawuba shengatsi ulindze phakadze. Kodvwa ngekushesha, indvodza yakhe yambona. Yamangala kakhulu, kodvwa yabese iyakhululeka. Yaphakamisa indvuku yayo yeligolide!​—Esta 5:1, 2.

26. Kungani emaKhristu eliciniso kudzingeka abe nesibindzi njenga-Esta, futsi kungani loko bekusicalo semsebenti wakhe?

²⁶ Inkhosi yayitimisele kuva loko Esta labefuna kukusho. Esta wamelela Nkulunkulu wakhe nebantfu bakubo, atibekela sibonelo lesihle sekukholwa tonkhe tinceku taNkulunkulu kute kube ngulamuhla. EmaKhristu eliciniso lamuhla ayatijabulela tibonelo letifanana naleti. Jesu watsi balandzeli bakhe labacotfo bebatawubonakala ngekuba nelutsandvo lwekutidzela. (Fundza Johane 13:34, 35.) Kute sikhombise lutsandvo lolufanana nalolu, kudzingeka kutsi sibe nesibindzi lesinjengesa-Esta. Ngisho nangemuva kwekutsi Esta amelele bantfu baNkulunkulu ngalelo langa, loko bekusicalo nje semsebenti wakhe. Abetayicinisekisa njani inkhosi kutsi lomeluleki wayo lemtsandzako, longuHamani, ulicili lelikhohlakele? Abetawusifaka njani sandla ekusiteni bantfu bakubo? Sitawucoca ngalemibuto esehlukweni lesilandzelako.