1-3. (a) Kuyini okwakungenza u-Esta esabe ukuya kumkakhe? (b) Yiphi imibuzo emayelana lo-Esta esizaxoxa ngayo?

U-ESTA wasondela ngaphakathi kwesigodlo saseSusa uvalo selumbulele. Wazama ukwehlisa amaphaphu kodwa kwakungalula. Loba ngubani owayengangena endaweni le wayengamangala abambe owangaphansi. Phela kwakulenkalakatha zezithombe ezazizinhle okwamagama ziyimibalabala. Imiduli yakhona yayimide iyibucwazicwazi, iceciswe ngemifanekiso yezinkunzi ezilamaphiko, amaqhawe aphethe imitshoko kanye lezilwane. Isigodlo lesi sasakhiwe endaweni ethe wathalala eyayiseduze lezintaba zaseZagros ezazembeswe ngungqwaqwane. Sasikhangelane lomfula uChoaspes owawugeleza amanzi ahlanzekileyo. Nxa wawusithi lungu wawuhle uzibonele ukuthi inkosi ehlala lapha yindoda emadodeni. Yayizibiza ngokuthi “iyinkosi enkulu.” U-Esta wayesiza kuyo njalo yayingumkakhe.

² Kanti wayesweleni aze athathwe yindoda le? Phela akulantombi ethembekileyo engumJuda eyayingafuna ukwendela emuntwini onje! * Inkosi u-Ahasuweru yayinganyatheli sondo linye labantu abanjengo-Abhrahama, indoda eyalalelayo lapho uNkulunkulu eyitshela ukuthi ilalele umkayo uSara. (Gen. 21:12) Mhlawumbe yayingazi lutho ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Esta langoMthetho wakhe kumbe yayisazi okulutshwana nje. Yona yayizazela umthetho wasePhesiya. Okunye okwakusemthethweni lo yikuthi umuntu owayengaphonguthutsha enkosini ingambizanga wayengabulawa. Manje u-Esta yikho ayesezakwenza. Inkosi yayingambizanga, kodwa wayesesiya khona kanye esigodlweni. Wasondela-ke enkundleni engaphakathi kwesigodlo, lapho inkosi eyayingambona khona ethutsha. Mhlawumbe u-Esta wayecabanga ukuthi wayeselanda ukufa ekukhangele.—Bala u-Esta 4:11; 5:1.

³ U-Esta wayesengenwe kuyini esiyahlokoza inyoka emlindini wayo? Indaba yowesifazana lo owayelokholo oluqinileyo ingasifundisani? Ake siqale sibone ukuthi kwenzakala njani ukuthi u-Esta abe yindlovukazi yasePhesiya yena engumJuda nje.

4. U-Esta wayengubani, njalo kwakutheni aze ayehlala lomzawakhe uModekhayi.

⁴ U-Esta wayeyintandane. Abazali bakhe bamnika ibizo lesiHebheru elithi Hadasha elitsho “imitheli,” isihlahla esihle esilamaluba amhlophe. Kasitshelwa okunengi ngabo, kodwa esikwaziyo yikuthi bathi besifa, isihlobo sika-Esta okwakuthiwa nguModekhayi samzwela usizi, samondla. UModekhayi wayengumzawakhe kodwa wayemdala khatshana kulaye. Wahlala laye emzini wakhe njalo wamphatha njengomntanakhe.—Esta. 2:5-7, 15.

5, 6. (a) UModekhayi wamkhulisa njani u-Esta? (b) UModekhayi lo-Esta babephila impilo enjani eSusa?

⁵ UModekhayi lo-Esta babeyizithunjwa ezingamaJuda ezazihlala eSusa, edolobheni elikhulu lasePhesiya. Kumele ukuthi babebandlululwa ngenxa yokuthi babengakhonzi onkulunkulu basePhesiya njalo babelandela uMthetho kaJehova. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uModekhayi wafundisa u-Esta ngoJehova uNkulunkulu olesihawu, owayehlenge abantu bakhe ngezikhathi zosizi njalo owayezabahlenga ebunzimeni abasebekubo. (Levi. 26:44, 45) Kufanele ukuthi u-Esta loModekhayi babezwanana kakhulu, bengamathe lolimi.

⁶ Kukhanya angathi uModekhayi wayelesikhundla, esebenza lezinceku zenkosi esangweni lenkosi esigodlweni saseSusa. (Esta. 2:19, 21; 3:3) U-Esta yena wakhula esenzani? Kasingeke sitsho, kodwa kumele ukuthi wayemnanza umzawakhe futhi emenzela lemisebenzi yangekhaya. Kungenzeka ukuthi umuzi kaModekhayi wawusendaweni yabantukazana eyayiphetsheya komfula nxa usuka esigodlweni senkosi. Engxenye u-Esta wayekuthanda ukuya emakethe lapho okwakulabakhandi begolide labesiliva kanye labanye abantu ababethengisa izinto ezitshiyeneyo. U-Esta wayengakwazi ukuthi ngelinye ilanga yonke imicwebecwebe le yayizabe isibuzwa kuye. Wayengakwazi ukuthi elakusasa lalimphatheleni.

7. Kungani uVashiti wagunyulwa esikhundleni sokuba yindlovukazi, njalo kwaphetha ngani?

⁷ Kwakuyisiphithiphithi eSusa kulamahungahunga okuthi emzini wenkosi kwakungani izinto zasezimi manzonzo. Indaba  yayiqalise edilini elikhulu u-Ahasuweru ayelenzele izikhulu zakhe. Kwakungasikudla nje kuyizibiliboco zodwa njalo iwayini laliyithaphutshiye. Indlovukazi uVashithi layo yayizitika labesifazana bebodwa. Besakholisa, inkosi yathuma izithunywa zayo ukuthi zibize indlovukazi yayo eyayiyisiqamulamayezi, kodwa uVashithi wala. Inkosi yezwa angani iwohlozwe amabhetshu, njalo yavutha ngolaka. Yacebisana labeluleki bayo ukuthi uVashithi wayengajeziswa njani. Kwaphetha ngani? Wagunyulwa esikhundleni sokuba yindlovukazi. Inkosi yathuma-ke izinceku zayo ukuthi zibhudule kulo lonke elasePhesiya zidinge izintombi nto ezazingamatshatshazi. Inkosi yayizakhetha indlovukazi entsha phakathi kwazo.—Esta. 1:1–2:4.

8. (a) Kuyini okwakungabe kukhathaza uModekhayi ngesikhathi u-Esta ekhula? (b) Wena ubona angathi singakusebenzisa njani lokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo ngobuhle? (Khangela leZaga 31:30.)

⁸ Akumcabange uModekhayi emthapha ngamehlo umzawakhe u-Esta, eziqhenya ngokuthi intombi le yayisikhule yabanhle salanga liphuma kodwa aphinde akhathazeke. ‘Intombazana le, yayibukeka kakhulu inhle.’ (Esta. 2:7) Manje kuyini okwakungabe kukhathaza uModekhayi? IBhayibhili lisitshengisa ukuthi akulanto embi ngobuhle. Kodwa okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi umuntu ahlakaniphe futhi azithobe. Nxa engayekela ukwenza njalo, angacina esezigqaja futhi engaselasimilo. (Bala iZaga 11:22.) Wena uyake ukunanzelele yini lokhu? Pho ubuhle buka-Esta babuzamenza amile impiko yini kumbe abe ngumuntu ongcono? Kwakuzakhanya ngokuya kwesikhathi.

9. (a) Izinceku zenkosi zenzani sezibone u-Esta, njalo kungani kwakungabe kubuhlungu kakhulu ukwehlukana kwakhe loModekhayi? (b) Kungani uModekhayi wayekela u-Esta etshada lomhedeni? (Khangela lebhokisi.)

⁹ Izinceku zenkosi zabona u-Esta ngesikhathi zidinga izintombi. Zamthatha kuModekhayi zamusa ngale komfula esigodlweni senkosi esasiyibucwazicwazi. (Esta. 2:8) Kumele ukuthi kwaba buhlungu kakhulu ukwehlukana kwabo ngenxa yokuthi uModekhayi wayesengani nguyise ka-Esta. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wayengafuni ukuthi umzawakhe lo owaseyindodakazi yakhe atshade lomuntu ongamaziyo uNkulunkulu lanxa wayeyinkosi. Kodwa lokhu kwakuphezu kwamandla akhe. * Kumele ukuthi u-Esta engakahambi esigodlweni saseSusa, walalelisisa ngesikhathi uModekhayi emlaya. Esesendleleni wayehamba ezibuza lokhu lalokhuya. Pho impilo yakhe yayizakuba njani?

10, 11. (a) Indawo u-Esta ayesephila kuyo yayingenza ukuthi abe ngumuntu onjani? (b) UModekhayi watshengisa njani ukuthi wayemkhathalela u-Esta?

¹⁰ Impilo ka-Esta yayisintshintshe kakhulu. Wayengomunye  ‘wamantombazana amanengi’ ayetholakele kuzo zonke izabelo zombuso wasePhesiya. Mhlawumbe ulimi lwabantu laba, indlela ababecabanga ngayo kanye lamasiko abo kwakutshiyene kakhulu lokwakhe. Izintombi lezi zazikhangelwa nguHegayi owayelonda indawo yabesifazana. Kwakumele zingene ohlelweni olwaluzathatha umnyaka wonke lapho imizimba yazo eyayizabe igcotshwa ngamafutha, ilungilungiswa futhi iqholwa ngamakha. (Esta. 2:8, 12) Ukuphila impilo enje kwakungenza ukuthi zizikhukhumeze futhi zitshone sezincintisana ngokuthi ngubani omuhle kakhulu phakathi kwazo. U-Esta yena wayezakuba njalo yini?

¹¹ Kufanele ukuthi uModekhayi wayelala engalele ekhathazeka ngo-Esta. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi nsuku zonke wayehamba eduzane leguma lendlu yabesifazana ukuze azwe ukuthi u-Esta uqhuba njani. (Esta. 2:11) Engxenye ezinye izinceku ezazisebenza endaweni le yizo ezazimncweba indlebe. Kumele ukuthi nxa wayesizwa  ngo-Esta kwakusithi azitshaye isifuba njengobaba ogwaba ngomntanakhe. Ngenxa yani?

12, 13. (a) Abantu babesithini ngo-Esta? (b) Kungani kwakungabe kumthokozisa uModekhayi ukuzwa ukuthi u-Esta wayengakuvezanga ukuthi ungumJuda?

¹² UHegayi wamthakazelela kakhulu u-Esta wamphatha saqanda. Wamupha amantombazana ayisikhombisa okumsebenzela, wamfaka endaweni eyayinhle kulazo zonke endlini yabesifazana. Phela iBhayibhili lize lithi: “U-Esta wathakazelelwa yibo bonke abambonayo.” (Esta. 2:9, 15) Kambe ubuhle bakhe yibo bodwa obabusenza ukuthi bamthande kangaka? Hatshi, okunye ababemthandela khona yikuthi wayelobuntu.

¹³ Ngokwesibonelo “u-Esta wayengawuvezanga umhlobo adabuka kuwo lemuli yakwabo, ngoba uModekhayi wayemenqabele  ukukwenza lokho.” (Esta. 2:10) Wayemtshele ukuthi angavezi ukuthi wayengumhlobo bani ngenxa yokuthi wayesazi ukuthi esigodlweni kwakulabanye ababewabandlulula amaJuda. Ubona angathi uModekhayi wayesizwa njani nxa ethola ukuthi u-Esta wayelokhu emlalela lanxa babengasahlali bonke? Kumele ukuthi umoya wakhe wawuchelesa!

14. Abasakhulayo bangamlingisela njani u-Esta?

¹⁴ Lamuhla abasakhulayo bona bangabathokozisa njani abazali babo kumbe labo ababondlayo? Ngokuhlala belandela izimiso zikaNkulunkulu lanxa abazali babo bengababoni, kungelani lokuthi baphakathi kwabantu abagangileyo, abangaziphathanga loba abalodlakela. Nxa bangenza njalo, bayabe belingisela u-Esta futhi bethokozisa uBaba wethu osezulwini.—Bala iZaga 27:11.

15, 16. (a) Kungani inkosi yathanda u-Esta? (b) Kungani kwakungaba nzima ukuthi u-Esta ayijayele impilo entsha ayesezayiphila?

¹⁵ Lafika ilanga lokuthi u-Esta aye enkosini. Watshelwa ukuthi azikhethele loba kuyini ayekufuna, mhlawumbe ayengazicombacomba ngakho ukuze abe muhle kakhulu. Kodwa yena wazithoba, kacelanga lutho ngaphandle kwalokho okwakukhulunywe nguHegayi. (Esta. 2:15) Engxenye wakunanzelela ukuthi ukuba muhle nje kuphela kwakungeke kwenze ukuthi inkosi imthande. Wabona ukuthi okwakuqakathekile yikuthi azithobe, angazikhukhumezi njengabanengi ababesesigodlweni. Lokhu kwamnceda yini?

¹⁶ IBhayibhili lithi: “Inkosi yakhangwa ngu-Esta kakhulukazi okwedlula abanye bonke abesifazana, njalo yamthakazelela yathokoza ngaye okwedlula zonke ezinye izintombi ezigcweleyo. Ngakho yamethwesa umqhele wobukhosi yamenza waba yindlovukazi endaweni kaVashithi.” (Esta. 2:17) Kufanele ukuthi kwakunzima ukuthi intombi le engumJuda eyayizithoba ijayele impilo le entsha. Phela wayeseyindlovukazi yenkosi eyayilamandla ukwedlula wonke amakhosi angalesosikhathi! Loba kunjalo, kazange azikhukhumeze.

17. (a) U-Esta watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelokhu emlalela uModekhayi? (b) Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi silingisele u-Esta?

¹⁷ U-Esta waqhubeka emlalela umzawakhe uModekhayi owayengathi nguyise. Kazange ayithi vu eyokuthi yena wayedabuka koJuda. Ngelinye ilanga uModekhayi watshela u-Esta ukuthi kwakulabantu ababesakha icebo lokubulala u-Ahasuweru. Lakanye u-Esta walalela wayixwayisa inkosi, icebo labo lafadalala. (Esta. 2:20-23) Wayezithoba njalo wayelalela sibili. Lokhu kwakutshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo kuNkulunkulu wakhe. Lamuhla abantu abanengi kabasalaleli, bayiziqholo futhi bazenzela umathanda. Yikho kuqakathekile ukuthi silalele njengo-Esta. Lokhu kuzatshengisa ukuthi silokholo oluqinileyo.

18. (a) Kuyini okwakungabe kusenza ukuthi uModekhayi ale ukukhothamela uHamani? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (b) Lamuhla amadoda labesifazana abalokholo bamlingisela njani uModekhayi?

¹⁸ Kwakulendoda okwakuthiwa nguHamani eyaphiwa isikhundla esiphezulu esigodlweni sika-Ahasuweru. Yayisilesikhundla esilandela inkosi embusweni njalo yayisiyinduna enkulu yenkosi lomeluleki wayo omkhulu. Inkosi yaze yakhipha umthetho wokuthi loba ngubani owayebona induna le kwakumele ayikhothamele. (Esta. 3:1-4) Kodwa umthetho lo wawulukhunyana kuModekhayi. Wayeyilalela sibili inkosi kodwa wayengeke adanise uNkulunkulu. UHamani wayengum-Agagi. Lokhu kungabe kusitsho ukuthi wayengowosendo luka-Agagi, inkosi yama-Amaleki eyabulawa ngumphrofethi uSamuyeli ethunywe nguNkulunkulu. (1 Sam. 15:33) Ama-Amaleki ayexhwale kakhulu okokuthi acina eseyizitha zikaJehova lama-Israyeli. UNkulunkulu wayethe isizwe lesi sitshabalaliswe. * (Dute. 25:19) AkulamJuda othembekileyo owayengakhothamela um-Amaleki. Yikho uModekhayi laye wala wajeka intaba. Lalamuhla kulamadoda labesifazana ababhejela ukufa kulokuthi bephule isimiso lesi esithi: “Simele silalele uNkulunkulu kulokulalela abantu!”—ImiSeb. 5:29.

19. UHamani wayefuna ukwenzani, njalo wenzani ukuze athole imvumo enkosini?

¹⁹ UHamani wazonda waphuphuma! Kodwa nxa wayengabulala uModekhayi kuphela, kuye kwakuyafanana lokuthi wayeyabe engenzanga lutho. Yikho wakubona kufanele ukuthi atshabalalise wonke amaJuda! UHamani wanyundisela abantu laba enkosini. Kazange atsho ukuthi babengobani sibisibili, kodwa wakhuluma egudlisela ukuthi babengabantu abangasizi lutho. Wathi ngabantu “abahlakazeke basabalala phakathi kwabantu.” Wakhwezela esithi babengayilaleli imithetho yenkosi njalo babengamavukelambuso ayingozi. Waze watshela inkosi ukuthi wayezakhipha amagqibhagqibha emali ukuze kubhadalwe izindleko zokubulala wonke amaJuda ayesembusweni. * U-Ahasuweru wanika uHamani indandatho yakhe ukuze ibe yisidindo sokuthi wayengenza lokho ayekuhlosile.—Esta. 3:5-10.

20, 21. (a) UModekhayi lawo wonke amaJuda ayeseMbusweni wasePhesiya bazizwa njani sebezwe isimemezelo sikaHamani? (b) UModekhayi wacela ukuthi u-Esta enzeni?

²⁰ Ngesikhatshana nje izithunywa ezazihamba ngamabhiza zathi  tsaha embusweni wonke zatshela abantu ukuthi amaJuda wonke kwakufanele abulawe. Zawusakaza umbiko lo waze wayafika laseJerusalema lapho okwakulamaJuda ayevela eBhabhiloni ayesakha idolobho leli elalingelamiduli yokulivikela. Akucabange ukuthi amaJuda athini ewuzwa umbiko lo. Engxenye uModekhayi wawacabanga amaJuda la ngesikhathi ezizwa izindaba lezi ezimbi, wanakana langezihlobo kanye labangane bakhe ababeseSusa. Wakhathazeka kakhulu wadabula izigqoko zakhe, wagqoka amasaka okulila, wazithela ngomlotha ekhanda futhi wadabula phakathi kwedolobho esiqhinqa isililo. Kodwa uHamani yena wayezinathela lenkosi engagqize qhakala ngesililo lesi ayesilethele wonke amaJuda labangane bawo ababeseSusa.—Bala u-Esta 3:12–4:1.

²¹ UModekhayi wayekwazi ukuthi kwakungafanelanga ahlalele izandla. Manje wayengenzani enguModekhayi nje? U-Esta wezwa ukuthi umzawakhe wayephakathi kosizi wasemthumela izigqoko, kodwa yena wala ukududuzwa. Mhlawumbe kwasekulesikhathi eside ezibuza ukuthi kungani uJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe wayevumele ukuthi intandokazi yakhe u-Esta yehlukane laye iyekuba yindlovukazi yenkosi engumhedeni. Khathesi-ke kwasekusithi dlwe, esesibona isizatho. Yikho-ke walayezela inceku yendlovukazi u-Esta ukuthi iyemcela ukuthi abakhulumele lenkosi ukuze “abantu bakibo” basinde.—Esta. 4:4-8.

22. Kuyini okwakusenza ukuthi u-Esta esabe ukuya enkosini lanxa yayingumkakhe? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

 ²² Lapho u-Esta ekuzwa lokhu, kumele ukuthi kwabila ekhanda kwangathi ubuchopho bubaselwe ilangabi. Lesi kwakuyisilingo esikhulu esasizatshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo. Wayesesaba njalo wakuveza lokhu ngesikhathi ephendula uModekhayi. Wamkhumbuza ngomthetho wenkosi owawusithi nxa umuntu wayengayazithela enkosini ingambizanga, wayengagwetshelwa ukufa. Wayengasila kuphela nxa inkosi ingelula intonga yayo yegolide. U-Esta yena wayelaso yini isizatho sokucabanga ukuthi wayengasila njengoba wayezibonele lokho inkosi eyayikwenze kuVashithi lapho esala ngesikhathi imbiza? Wamtshela uModekhayi ukuthi kwasekulamalanga angu-30 inkosi ingazange imbize. Engxenye lokhu kwenza ukuthi u-Esta azitshele ukuthi inkosi le eyayiphenduphenduka njengonwabu yayingasamthandi. *—Esta. 4:9-11.

23. (a) UModekhayi wathini ukuze aqinise ukholo luka-Esta? (b) Kungani kumele simlingisele uModekhayi?

²³ UModekhayi waphendula engakhekhelezi ukuze aqinise ukholo luka-Esta. Wamtshela ukuthi nxa wayengazihlalela angenzi lutho, amaJuda ayezathola usizo kwenye indawo. Waphinda wathi u-Esta laye wayengeke asile nxa abakibo sebebulawa. Lapha uModekhayi waveza ukuthi wayelokholo kuJehova, uNkulunkulu owayengeke avumele ukuthi abantu bakhe batshabalaliswe loba ukuthi izithembiso zakhe ziphelele emoyeni. (Josh. 23:14) Wabuza u-Esta wathi: “Kwazi bani, ukuthi uze kulesi sikhundla sobukhosi ngenxa yesikhathi esinjengalesi na?” (Esta. 4:12-14) Kufanele simlingisele sibili uModekhayi. Wayemthemba ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe. Wena uyamthemba yini?—Zaga. 3:5, 6.

24. U-Esta watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelokholo lesibindi?

²⁴ U-Esta kwasekumele akhethe ukuthi uzakwenzani. Watshela uModekhayi ukuthi acele abantu bakibo ukuthi bazile okwamalanga amathathu njengaye. Waphetha ngokuthi: “Nxa ngibhubha, ngiyabe ngibhubhile.” (Esta. 4:15-17) Nxa siwabala amazwi la, siyazibonela ukuthi wayelokholo kanye lesibindi. Kufanele ukuthi okwamalanga la amathathu wathandaza ngendlela ayengakaze enze ngayo. Lafika elingaliyo. Waceca ngezigqoko zakhe ezinhle zasesikhosini, esenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze abukeke enkosini, wasesiya kuyo.

25. Chaza ukuthi kwenzakalani lapho u-Esta esiya kumkakhe.

²⁵ U-Esta waya esigodlweni senkosi njengoba kuchaziwe ekuqaliseni kwesahluko. Akucabange ukuthi wayekhathazeke njani, mhlawumbe eselokhu ethandaza encenga ngenhliziyo yonke. Wafika wangena esigodlweni senkosi, engxenye wambona nanguya u-Ahasuweru ehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi. Nxa kuyikuthi kwathiwa aqale ame kancane, kuye kwakuyabe sekungani kade walinda. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayikhangela ebusweni inkosi efuna ukubona ukuthi yayithabile kumbe izondile. Ekucineni yambona futhi kufanele ukuthi yamangala, kodwa kayizange ihwaqe. Yelula intonga yayo yegolide yamkhomba ngayo.—Esta. 5:1, 2.

26. Kungani kumele amaKhristu abe lesibindi esinjengesika-Esta, njalo wayesewuqedile yini umsebenzi wakhe?

²⁶ Inkosi yathiya indlebe yamlalela u-Esta. Indlovukazi le yayitshengise ukuthi ithembekile kuNkulunkulu njalo yayifake ukuphila kwayo engozini izama ukuvikela isizwe sakibo. AmaKhristu eqiniso ayakuqakathekisa kakhulu okwenziwa ngu-Esta kanye labanye ababelokholo. UJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe beqiniso babezakhanya ngokuthanda abanye, bazidele ngenxa yabo. (Bala uJohane 13:34, 35.) Kumele sibe lesibindi esinjengesika-Esta nxa sifuna ukuba lothando olunje. Wayesethethe inyathelo lokuqala ukuze avikele abantu bakaNkulunkulu kodwa kunengi okwakusamele akwenze. Wayezathini enkosini ukuze inanzelele ukuthi uHamani umeluleki wayo eyayimfake ekhwapheni wayelimenemene? Wayezakwenzani ukuze abantu bakibo bangabulawa? Imibuzo le izaphendulwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.