1-3. (a) Kungani u-Esteri ayengazizwa esaba ukuya phambi komyeni wakhe? (b) Sizoxoxa ngamiphi imibuzo mayelana no-Esteri?

U-ESTERI wazama ukwehlisa umoya njengoba esondela egcekeni lesigodlo eShushani. Kwakungelula. Konke okwakusesigodlweni kwakuklanyelwe ukuba kukushiye umangele futhi wethukile—imifanekiso emibalabala yezinkunzi ezinamaphiko, abacibisheli, izingonyama ezakhiwe ngezitini ezinemibala, izinsika zetshe ezihlotshisiwe nezizemazema zemifanekiso, ngisho nalapho sasakhiwe khona endaweni eyithafa eduze kweziNtaba ZaseZagros ezilele iqhwa nezengame umfula ocwebile iChoaspes. Konke kwakuhloselwe ukukhumbuza isivakashi amandla amakhulu endoda u-Esteri ayezoyibona, eyayizibiza ngokuthi “inkosi enkulu.” Le ndoda yayingumyeni wakhe u-Esteri.

² Umyeni wakhe! Yeka indlela u-Ahashiveroshi ayehluke ngayo kunoma yiluphi uhlobo lomyeni intombazane ethembekile engumJuda okungenzeka yayilulindele! * Wayengazilandeli izibonelo ezinjengo-Abrahama, indoda eyasamukela ngokuthobeka iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sokulalela uSara, umkayo. (Gen. 21:12) Le nkosi yayazi okuncane kakhulu, uma kukhona, ngoNkulunkulu ka-Esteri, uJehova, noma ngoMthetho waKhe. Noma kunjalo, u-Ahashiveroshi wayewazi umthetho wamaPheresiya, kuhlanganise nalowo owawenqabela kona kanye lokho u-Esteri ayezokwenza. Kwakuyini leyo? Umthetho wawuthi noma ubani oya enkosini yasePheresiya ingambizanga wayefanelwe ukufa. U-Esteri wayengabizwanga, kodwa wayeya kuyo yize kunjalo. Njengoba esondela egcekeni elingaphakathi, lapho inkosi yayingambona khona isesihlalweni sobukhosi, cishe u-Esteri waba nomuzwa wokuthi uyalibuka uyaligcina.—Funda u-Esteri 4:11; 5:1.

³ Kungani u-Esteri azifaka engozini engaka? Futhi yini esingayifunda okholweni lwalona wesifazane omangalisa kangaka? Okokuqala, ake sibone ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba u-Esteri  azithole esesikhundleni esingavamile sokuba yindlovukazi yasePheresiya.

4. U-Esteri wakhula ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo, futhi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ahlale nomzala wakhe uMoridekayi?

⁴ U-Esteri wayeyintandane. Sazi okuncane kakhulu ngabazali bakhe abamqamba ngokuthi uHadasa, igama lesiHebheru elisho ukuthi “umbomvana,” isihlahla esihle esinezimbali ezimhlophe. Lapho abazali baka-Esteri befa, esinye sezihlobo zakhe, indoda enomusa okuthiwa uMoridekayi, sayizwela le ngane. UMoridekayi wayengumzala ka-Esteri, kodwa emdala kakhulu kunaye. UMoridekayi wathatha u-Esteri wamkhulisa njengendodakazi yakhe.—Est. 2:5-7, 15.

5, 6. (a) UMoridekayi wamkhulisa kanjani u-Esteri? (b) U-Esteri noMoridekayi babephila ukuphila okunjani eShushani?

⁵ UMoridekayi no-Esteri babephila njengamaJuda adingisiwe kuleyo nhloko-dolobha yasePheresiya, endaweni okungenzeka babebukelwa phansi kuyo ngenxa yenkolo yabo noMthetho ababezama ukuwulandela. Akungabazeki ukuthi u-Esteri wasondelana nomzala wakhe njengoba ayemfundisa ngoJehova, uNkulunkulu onesihe owayebakhulule kaningi abantu bakhe ebunzimeni ngaphambili—nowayesazobakhulula. (Lev. 26:44, 45) Ngokusobala, ubuhlobo babo bothando nokwethembana baya bukhula.

⁶ Kubonakala sengathi uMoridekayi wayeyisikhulu sohlobo oluthile esigodlweni saseShushani, evame ukuhlala esangweni nezinye izinceku zenkosi. (Est. 2:19, 21; 3:3) Asazi ukuthi u-Esteri wayezilibazisa ngani ngesikhathi ekhula, kodwa kubonakala sengathi wayemnakekela kahle umzala wakhe owayesekhulile kanye nomuzi wakhe, cishe owawusendaweni yabadla imbuya ngothi ngaphesheya komfula. Mhlawumbe wayekuthanda ukuya emakethe yaseShushani, lapho abasebenza ngegolide nesiliva nabanye abadayisi babedayisa khona izinto zabo. U-Esteri wayengakaze acabange ukuthi wayeyoba nazo izinto eziphambili kanjalo; wayengazi ukuthi ikusasa limphatheleni.

7. Kungani uVashiti agudluzwa ekubeni indlovukazi, futhi umphumela waba yini?

⁷ Ngolunye usuku eShushani kwaba namahemuhemu okuthi kukhona isiwiliwili endlini yenkosi. Esidlweni esikhulu, lapho u-Ahashiveroshi ayejabulisa khona izikhulu zakhe ngezibiliboco newayini, inkosi yabiza isiphalaphala sendlovukazi yayo, uVashiti, eyayidlela kwelinye igumbi nabesifazane. Kodwa uVashiti wenqaba ukuya. Iphoxekile futhi ithukuthele ingqangqa, inkosi yabuza abeluleki bayo ukuthi uVashiti kufanele ajeziswe kanjani. Waba yini umphumela? Wagudluzwa ekubeni indlovukazi. Izinceku zenkosi zaqala ukufuna izintombi ezinhle ezweni lonke; phakathi kwazo inkosi yayizokhetha indlovukazi.—Est. 1:1–2:4.

8. (a) Kungani uMoridekayi ayengase azizwe ekhathazeka ngo-Esteri njengoba ayekhula? (b) Ucabanga ukuthi singawusebenzisa kanjani umbono weBhayibheli olinganiselayo ngobuhle bangaphandle? (Bheka nezAga 31:30.)

⁸ Singambona ngeso lengqondo uMoridekayi edamane ebuka u-Esteri ngothando, eziqhenya ngesikhathi esifanayo ekhathazeka ngokuthi umzala wakhe manje usekhulile—futhi muhle kakhulu. Siyafunda: “Le ntombi yayimi kahle futhi iyinhle.” (Est. 2:7) IBhayibheli linikeza umbono olinganiselayo ngobuhle bangaphandle—buyathandeka kodwa kufanele buhambisane nokuhlakanipha nokuthobeka. Uma kungenjalo, bungazala ukuqhosha nokuzidla nezinye izimfanelo ezimbi zenhliziyo. (Funda izAga 11:22.) Uke wakubona lokho? Endabeni ka-Esteri, ubuhle babuyoba yini kuye—isipho noma ugibe? Kwakuzocaca ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.

9. (a) Kwenzekani lapho izinceku zenkosi zibona u-Esteri, futhi kungani kumelwe ukuba ukuhlukana kwakhe noMoridekayi kwaba nzima? (b) Kungani uMoridekayi avumela u-Esteri ukuba ashade nomuntu ongamkhulekeli uNkulunkulu? (Hlanganisa nebhokisi.)

⁹ Izinceku zenkosi zambona u-Esteri ukuthi muhle. Zamthatha kuMoridekayi zamyisa esigodlweni esihle ngaphesheya komfula. (Est. 2:8) Cishe kwakunzima ukuhlukana kwabo ngoba babenjengobaba nendodakazi. UMoridekayi wayengeke afune ukuba indodakazi yakhe yokutholwa ishade nanoma yimuphi umuntu ongeyena umkhulekeli kaNkulunkulu, ngisho kuyinkosi, kodwa isimo sase singaphezu kwamandla akhe. * Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba u-Esteri wamlalela ngayo uMoridekayi lapho emeluleka ngaphambi kokuba athathwe! Njengoba eyiswa esigodlweni eShushani, wayezibuza imibuzo eminingi. Hlobo luni lokuphila olwalumlindele?

10, 11. (a) Isimo esisha ayesekuso u-Esteri sasingamthonya kanjani? (b) UMoridekayi wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayekhathazekile ngenhlalakahle ka-Esteri?

¹⁰ U-Esteri wazithola esesendaweni entsha nangayijwayele. Wayephakathi ‘kwezintombi eziningi’ ezazibuthwe ezindaweni ezikude zoMbuso WasePheresiya. Kumelwe ukuba amasiko azo, ulimi nesimo sazo sokucabanga kwakuhluke kakhulu. Zingaphansi kwesikhulu okuthiwa uHegayi, lezi ntombi kwakufanele zitomotwe, zicwalwe, zibhucungwe nangamafutha anamakha amnandi, futhi lokhu kwakuzothatha unyaka wonke. (Est. 2:8, 12) Kalula nje ukuba sesimweni esinjalo nokuphathwa ngaleyo ndlela kwakungenza lezi zintombi zinake ngokweqile ukubukeka kwazo, kuzenze ziqhenye futhi zincintisane. Wathonyeka kanjani u-Esteri?

¹¹ Akekho owayengakhathazeka kakhulu ngo-Esteri ukwedlula uMoridekayi. Sifunda ukuthi usuku nosuku wayeya ngasendlini yabesifazane  azame ukuhosha umoya mayelana nokuthi u-Esteri uqhuba kanjani. (Est. 2:11) Njengoba ayekucoshacosha okwenzekayo, mhlawumbe esizwa izinceku zangaphakathi esigodlweni, kumelwe ukuba waziqhayisa ngendodakazi yakhe. Ngani?

12, 13. (a) U-Esteri wazakhela igama elinjani kwababeseduze kwakhe? (b) Kungani kwakungamjabulisa uMoridekayi ukwazi ukuthi u-Esteri wayengashongo lutho ngozalo lwakhe lobuJuda?

¹² U-Esteri wamhlaba umxhwele uHegayi kangangokuba wamphatha ngomusa wothando omkhulu, wamnika izincekukazi eziyisikhombisa nendawo enhle kunazo zonke endlini yabesifazane. Ukulandisa kuze kuthi: “U-Esteri wayelokhu ethola umusa njalo emehlweni abo bonke ababembona.” (Est. 2:9, 15) Ingabe ubuhle bubodwa nje babungahlaba bonke abantu umxhwele? Cha, kwakungebona nje ubuhle bodwa.

¹³ Ngokwesibonelo, siyafunda: “U-Esteri wayengazange akhulume ngabantu bakubo noma ngezihlobo zakhe, ngoba uMoridekayi  wayemyalile ukuthi angakhulumi.” (Est. 2:10) UMoridekayi wayeyiyalile le ntombazane ukuba ingathi vu ngozalo lwayo lobuJuda; cishe wayazi ukuthi izikhulu zasePheresiya zazibazonda abantu bakubo. Yeka ukuthi uMoridekayi wajabula kanjani ukuzwa ukuthi ngisho noma ingasekho ngaphansi kwesandla sakhe, yayisaqhubeka ibonisa ukuhlakanipha futhi ilalela!

14. Intsha namuhla ingasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sika-Esteri?

¹⁴ Ngokufanayo, intsha namuhla ingabajabulisa abazali bayo nalabo abayikhulisayo. Lapho ingekho eduze kwabazali—ngisho noma inabantu abangenangqondo, abangenasimilo, noma abanenhliziyo embi—ingakwazi ukumelana namathonya amabi, inamathele ezindinganisweni eyaziyo ukuthi zilungile. Uma yenza kanjalo, njengoba kwenza u-Esteri, yenza inhliziyo kaYise osezulwini ijabule.—Funda izAga 27:11.

15, 16. (a) U-Esteri waluzuza kanjani uthando lwenkosi? (b) Kungani kumelwe ukuba izinguquko ekuphileni kuka-Esteri zazinzima?

¹⁵ Lapho sifika isikhathi sokuba u-Esteri ethulwe phambi kwenkosi, wanikwa inkululeko yokuba akhethe noma yini ayecabanga ukuthi angayidinga, mhlawumbe ukuze azenze abe muhle nakakhulu. Kepha wazithoba wangacela lutho ngaphandle kwalokho uHegayi ayekushilo. (Est. 2:15) Cishe waqaphela ukuthi ubuhle bubodwa babungeke buyizuze inhliziyo yenkosi; isizotha nokuthobeka okwakuyobonakala kuyivelakancane esigodlweni, cishe yikona okwakungakhanga inkosi. Ingabe wayeqinisile?

¹⁶ Ukulandisa kuyaphendula: “Inkosi yamthanda u-Esteri ngaphezu kwabo bonke abanye besifazane, kangangokuba wathola umusa wothando omkhulu phambi kwayo ngaphezu kwazo zonke ezinye izintombi. Yabe isifaka umnqwazo wobukhosi ekhanda lakhe yamenza indlovukazi esikhundleni sikaVashiti.” (Est. 2:17) Kumelwe ukuba lwalunzima lolu shintsho kule ntombazane ethobekile engumJuda—yayisiyindlovukazi entsha, iyinkosikazi yenkosi eyayinamandla kunawo wonke amakhosi asemhlabeni ngaleso sikhathi! Ingabe isikhundla sakhe esisha samenza wazithwala, waqhosha? Phinde!

17. (a) Kungaziphi izindlela u-Esteri aqhubeka ngazo elalela uyise wokutholwa? (b) Kungani isibonelo sika-Esteri sibalulekile kithi namuhla?

¹⁷ U-Esteri waqhubeka elalela uyise wokutholwa, uMoridekayi. Wakugcina kuyimfihlo ukuthi ungumJuda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho uMoridekayi edalula icebo lokubulala u-Ahashiveroshi, u-Esteri wamlalela wadlulisa isixwayiso enkosini, futhi icebo labhuntsha. (Est. 2:20-23) Wabonisa ukholo kuNkulunkulu wakhe nangokubonisa umoya wokuthobeka nokulalela. Yeka indlela esisidinga ngayo isibonelo sika-Esteri namuhla, lapho ukulalela kungavamile ukubhekwa njengemfanelo enhle futhi ukungalaleli nokuvukela  kuyinsakavukela! Kodwa abantu abanokholo lweqiniso bayakwazisa ukulalela, njengoba kwenza u-Esteri.

18. (a) Yini okungenzeka yenza uMoridekayi wenqaba ukukhothamela uHamani? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.) (b) Amadoda nabesifazane bokholo namuhla basilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaMoridekayi?

¹⁸ Indoda okuthiwa uHamani yanikwa isikhundla esiphezulu egcekeni lika-Ahashiveroshi. Inkosi yambeka njengondunankulu, kanjalo uHamani waba umeluleki wayo oyinhloko nongowesibili ngobukhulu embusweni. Inkosi yaze yakhipha umyalo wokuba wonke umuntu obona lesi sikhulu kumelwe asikhothamele. (Est. 3:1-4) Lo myalo waba inselele kuMoridekayi. Wayekholelwa ukuthi kumelwe ayilalele inkosi uma nje kungahileli ukudelela uNkulunkulu. Phela uHamani wayengumAgagi. Lokho kusho ukuthi wayengowozalo luka-Agagi, inkosi yama-Amaleki eyabulawa umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uSamuweli. (1 Sam. 15:33) Isizwe sama-Amaleki sasisibi kangangokuthi saba izitha zikaJehova no-Israyeli. Njengesizwe, uNkulunkulu wawalahla ama-Amaleki. * (Dut. 25:19) UmJuda othembekile wayengamkhothamela kanjani nje umAmaleki? UMoridekayi wayengeke amkhothamele. Washaya phansi ngonyawo. Kuze kube namuhla, amadoda nabesifazane bokholo baye babeka ukuphila kwabo engozini ukuze balandele lesi simiso: “Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.”—IzE. 5:29.

19. UHamani wayefuna ukwenzani, futhi yini ayenza ukuze athonye inkosi?

¹⁹ UHamani wathukuthela wathelwa ngamanzi. Kodwa akakwazanga ukuthola indlela yokubulala uMoridekayi. Wayefuna ukuqothula bonke abantu bakubo kaMoridekayi! UHamani wathonya inkosi ngokwenza amaJuda abonakale emabi. Ngaphandle kokuwabiza ngegama, wasikisela ukuthi awalusizo lwalutho, ayisizwe “esihlakazekile nesihlukanisiwe phakathi kwezizwe.” Okubi nakakhulu, wathi lesi sizwe asiyilaleli imiyalo yenkosi; ngakho-ke sasingabavukeli abayingozi. Wasikisela ukunikela ngezindlodla zemali engcebweni yenkosi ukuze kukhokhwe izindleko zokubulala wonke amaJuda asembusweni. * U-Ahashiveroshi wanika uHamani indandatho yakhe njengophawu oluvumela noma yini acabanga ukuyenza.—Est. 3:5-10.

20, 21. (a) Isimemezelo sikaHamani sawathinta kanjani amaJuda kuwo wonke uMbuso WasePheresiya, kuhlanganise noMoridekayi? (b) UMoridekayi wanxusa u-Esteri ukuba enzeni?

 ²⁰ Ngokushesha izithunywa zase zigabavula ngamahhashi zigcwele amathafa zihambisa umyalezo owawuyisigwebo sokufa kumaJuda. Cabanga nje umphumela wesimemezelo esinjalo lapho sifika lé eJerusalema, lapho insali yamaJuda eyayibuye ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni yayishikiliswa ukwakha kabusha umuzi owawungakabi nadonga lokuwuvikela. Mhlawumbe lapho uMoridekayi ezwa lezi ndaba ezimbi, wacabanga ngale nsali kanye nabangane nezihlobo zakhe eShushani. Ekhathazeke kakhulu, wadabula izingubo zakhe, wagqoka indwangu yesaka, wathela umlotha ekhanda, wayesekhala kakhulu phakathi komuzi. UHamani yena wayezihlalele nenkosi beziphuzela, engenandaba nosizi alubangele amaJuda amaningi nabangane bawo eShushani.—Funda u-Esteri 3:12–4:1.

²¹ UMoridekayi wayazi ukuthi kufanele enze okuthile. Kodwa yini ayengayenza? U-Esteri wezwa ngokukhathazeka kwakhe wayesemthumelela izingubo, kodwa wenqaba ukududuzwa. Mhlawumbe kwase kuyisikhathi eside uMoridekayi ezibuza ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu wakhe uJehova, ayevumele ukuba u-Esteri amthandayo athathwe kuye ayokwenziwa indlovukazi yombusi oyiqaba. Kwabonakala sengathi sesiyavela isizathu. UMoridekayi wathumela  umyalezo ku-Esteri, emnxusa ukuba abakhulumele nenkosi, ukuba alwele “abantu bakubo.”—Est. 4:4-8.

22. Kungani u-Esteri ayesaba ukuya phambi kwenkosi engumyeni wakhe? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

²² Kumelwe ukuba umoya ka-Esteri wavele washona phansi lapho ezwa lo myalezo. Nalu uvivinyo olukhulu lokholo lwakhe. Wayesaba, futhi akakufihlanga lokho ngesikhathi ephendula uMoridekayi. Wamkhumbuza ngomthetho wenkosi. Ukuya phambi kwenkosi ingakubizanga kwakusho ukufa. Umuntu wayengasinda kuphela uma inkosi imelulele intonga yayo yegolide. U-Esteri wayenaso yini isizathu sokulindela ukuthola umusa onjalo, ikakhulukazi uma ecabanga ngokwenzeka kuVashiti lapho engawulaleli umyalo wenkosi wokuba aye kuyo? U-Esteri watshela uMoridekayi ukuthi kwase kuphele izinsuku ezingu-30 inkosi ingambizile! Ukunganakwa okunjalo kwamnikeza izizathu eziningi zokuzibuza ukuthi kazi usenesigcwagcwa yini kule nkosi enolaka. *— Est. 4:9-11.

23. (a) UMoridekayi wathini ku-Esteri ukuze amqinise ukholo? (b) Kungani uMoridekayi ekufanelekela ukulingiswa?

²³ UMoridekayi wanika u-Esteri impendulo enamandla ukuze amqinise ukholo. Wamqinisekisa ngokuthi uma ehluleka ukuthatha isinyathelo, ukukhululwa kwamaJuda kuyovela kwenye indawo. Kodwa u-Esteri wayengalindela ukuba yena asinde kanjani lapho ushushiso luqala? UMoridekayi wabonisa ukholo olujulile kuJehova, owayengeke neze avumele abantu bakhe baqothulwe nezithembiso zakhe zingagcwaliseki. (Josh. 23:14) UMoridekayi wabe esebuza u-Esteri: “Kwazi bani ukuthi utholé isithunzi sasebukhosini ngenxa yesikhathi esinjengalesi?” (Est. 4:12-14) UMoridekayi akakufanelekeli yini ukuba simlingise? Wamethemba ngokuphelele  uNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova. Ingabe thina siyamethemba?—IzAga 3:5, 6.

24. U-Esteri walubonisa kanjani ukholo nesibindi?

²⁴ Sase sifikile isikhathi sokuba u-Esteri enze isinqumo. Wacela uMoridekayi ukuba acele abantu bakubo bazile ukudla kanye naye izinsuku ezintathu, waphetha umyalezo wakhe ngamazwi abonisa ukholo nesibindi, asankeneneza namanje: “Uma kumelwe ngibhubhe, ngizobhubha.” (Est. 4:15-17) Kumelwe ukuba kulezo zinsuku ezintathu wathandaza ngokujulile kunanini ngaphambili. Ekugcineni wafika umzuzu ongaliyo! Wagqoka izingubo zikanokusho zasebukhosini, wazilungisa nje impela ukuze athandeke enkosini. Wayeseya enkosini.

25. Chaza okwenzeka njengoba u-Esteri eya phambi komyeni wakhe.

²⁵ Njengoba kuchazwe esingenisweni salesi sahluko, u-Esteri waya egcekeni lenkosi. Singacabanga nje ngexhala ayenalo nokuthi wayethandaza kaningi kangakanani. Wangena egcekeni, lapho ayengabona khona u-Ahashiveroshi ehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi. Kungenzeka wazama ukufunda ubuso bakhe—wabona nezinwele ezigoqene ezikanywe kahle nentshebe. Uma kwadingeka alinde, cishe kwaba sengathi uselinde isikhathi eside. Kodwa kwadlula isikhashana nje—umyeni wakhe wambona. Wayemangele impela, kodwa ubuso bakhe bathamba. Welula intonga yakhe yegolide!—Est. 5:1, 2.

26. Kungani amaKristu eqiniso edinga isibindi esinjengesika-Esteri, futhi kungani lokho akwenza kwakuseyisiqalo nje?

²⁶ Inkosi yayikulungele ukulalela u-Esteri. Wayelwele uNkulunkulu wakhe nabantu bakubo, ezibekela isibonelo esihle sokholo zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kuze kufike esikhathini sethu. AmaKristu eqiniso namuhla ayazazisa izibonelo ezinje. UJesu wathi amaKristu oqobo ayeyobonakala ngothando lokuzidela. (Funda uJohane 13:34, 35.) Ukubonisa lolu thando kudinga isibindi esinjengesika-Esteri. Kodwa ngisho nangemva kokuba u-Esteri elwele abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngalolo suku, kwakuseyisiqalo nje leso. Wayezoyenza kanjani inkosi ikholwe ukuthi umeluleki wayo oyintandokazi, uHamani, uyisikhohlakali esinamaqhinga? Wayezokwenzani ukuze asindise abantu bakubo? Sizocabangela le mibuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.