1. Lwakali biyeni lweendo Jona ndwaakali kuyanda kweenda, alubo wakamvwa biyeni chiindi naakali waba aafwiifwi kusika kuNiniva?

 JONA wakali aachiindi chiingi chakuyeeyesesya nkaambo wakali aalweendo lwamakkilomita ayinda ku 800, lwakali kukonzya kutola mweezi naakuti kwiinda aawo. Wakeelede kusala kuti ayende anzila zidunkwida na naakuti zizyunguluka, pesi kazitayoosyi. Wakeelede kwiinda mumimpata akutanta zilundu alubo wakali kuyooyinda munkanda yakuSiriya akuzubuka mulonga waFirate, kalikuyanduula ndawu yakukkala mumyuunzi iisiyene-siyene iiswaanizya Siriya, Mesopotamiya a-Asiriya. Mazuba naakali kuyabweenda, Jona wakasaanguna kuyoowa chiindi naakayeeyesesya atala amuunzi waNiniva, nkaambo wakali waba aafwiifwi kusika nkuko.

2. Jona wakayiya biyeni kuti takeelede kuchija mulimu ngwaakapegwa aJehova?

² Kuli chintu chimwi Jona nchaakali waziba. Wakalizi kuti takeelede kuchija mulimu ngwaakapegwa aJehova. Mbuli mbutwakabona muchiiyo chayinda, Jona wakeezya kuchija. Pesi Jehova wakamuyiisya kabotu-kabotu kabelesya guwo pati achigambyo chakumenwa aamuswi. Nikwakayinda mazuba aatatu, muswi ooyo wakakubulula Jona kunkomwe yalwizi. Eezi zyakamugambya Jona, alubo zyakapa kuti abe muntu uulibombya alubo uuswiilila.​—Jona chaandaano 1, a2.

3. Mbuubuli buntu Jehova mbwaakatondeezya Jona, pesi nguuli mubuzyo uukonzya kuba?

³ Chiindi Jehova naakatuma Jona kachibili kuti aye kuNiniva, chakufwambaana Jona taakwe naakawaya-waya pe, wakatozya kubuzwezuba. (Bala Jona 3:1-3.) Nikuba  oobo, Jona wakali wachincha na akaambo kalulayo Jehova ndwaakamupa? Muchikozyano, Jehova wakamufwida luzyalo, wakamuvuna kuti atayinkili mumaanzi, taakamupanicha pe chiindi naakapapila, alubo wakamupa umwi mweenya wakuti achite mulimu ngwaakali wamupa. Eezi zyakamugwasya na Jona kuti abafwide luzyalo bamwi? Chiindi chiingi nkuyumu kuti bantu balaachibi bafwide bamwi luzyalo. Atubone nzituyiya kuzwa kuzintu nzyaakaswaana Jona.

4, 5. Nkamboonzi Jehova naakaamba kuti muunzi waNiniva “wakali munzi mupati kapati,” alubo eezi zituyiisyaanzi atala anguwe?

⁴ Jona taakali kubona muunzi waNiniva munzila Jehova njaakali kuwubonaayo. Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Lino Nineve wakali munzi mupati kapati.” (Jon. 3:3) Majwi aaJehova akuti “Nineve wakali munzi mupati” ayindulwidwe tutatu mubbuku lyaJona. (Jon. 1:2; 3:2; 4:11) Nkamboonzi Jehova naakali kubona muunzi waNiniva kuli mupati naakuti kuuyandikana?

⁵ Niniva wakali muunzi wachiindi nkaambo wakali aakati kamyuunzi yakasaanguna kuyakwa aNimrodi nikwakamana  Zambangulwe. Wakali muunzi mupati nkaambo wakali kuswaanizya madolopo aasiyene-siyene alubo wakali kweendwa mazuba aatatu. (Matl. 10:11; Jon. 3:3) Muunzi waNiniva wakali mubotu, wakali amatempele, miduli iisimide amaanda mabotu. Pesi eezi teenzizyo pe zyakali kupa kuti muunzi ooyu uyandikane kuli Jehova. Jehova wakali kubikkila maanu kubantu. Aachiindi eecho, muNiniva mwakali bantu biingi kwiinda amwi madolopo. Nikuba kuti bantu aabo bakali kuchita zintu zibi, Leza wakali aandaba ambabo. Eezi zitondeezya kuti Leza ububikkila maanu buumi bwabantu alubo ulaachiyandisyo chakuti bantu bachita zintu zibi bayiye kuchita zibotu alubo bachinche.

6. (a) Kweelede kuti nkamboonzi Jona naakayoowa chiindi naakasika mumuunzi waNiniva? (Langa makani aamunsi.) (b) Twiiyaanzi kuzwa kuli Jona kunzila njaakawuchitaayo mulimu wakwe wakukambawuka?

⁶ Kweelede kuti chiindi Jona naakasika mumuunzi waNiniva wakayoowa nkaambo kwakali bantu biingi bayinda ku 120 000. a Wakeenda musinzo wabuzuba, kweelede kuti kali kuyanduula ndawu iili kabotu mpaakali kukonzya kwaambilizya mulumbe wakwe. Wakali kuyoochita biyeni kuti abasike aamoyo bantu aaba? Wakali wayiya kwaambuula chi-Asiriya na naakuti Jehova wakali wamugwasya munzila yachigambyo kuti akonzye kwaambuula mulaka ooyu? Tatuzi pe. Amwi Jona wakabelesya chiHebberu mpawo wakayanduula muntu wakali kusandulula mumulaka ngubamvwa bantu bakuNiniva. Kufumbwa nzyaakachita, mulumbe wakwe wakali muuba alubo wakali kumvwisisika. Wakaamba kuti: “Kwainda buyo mazuba aali 40, Nineve uyoonyonyoonwa.” (Jon. 3:4) Jona wakaambuula kali aanguzu alubo wakayindulula mulumbe wakwe. Jona wakatondeezya chibindi alubo aalusyomo, oobu mbuntu buyandikana loko kumaKkristu oonse mazubaano.

7, 8. (a) Bantu bakuNiniva bakawutambula biyeni mulumbe waJona? (b) Mwaami wakuNiniva wakachitaanzi naakamvwa mulumbe waJona?

⁷ Jona wakali kuyeeyela kuti bantu bakuNiniva bakali kuyoomunyemena naakuti kumulwana. Pesi zyakachitika teenzyaakali kuyeeyela pe. Bantu bakuNiniva bakawuswiilila mulumbe wakwe. Muchiindi chifwiifwi biyo, mulumbe wakwe wakazula muNiniva mbuli mulilo wamusokwe alubo bantu boonse bakali batalika kwaambuula atala aabupolofita bwaJona. (Bala Jona 3:5.) Bantu banotede  abafwaba, batakwe nguzu abalaanguzu, baniini abapati boonse bakalipeda kuchincha. Bakalyimya chakulya alubo makani aali atala amulumbe waJona akasika kumatwi amwaami.

⁸ Mwaami wakawuswiilila mulumbe waJona. Akaambo kakuyoowa Leza wakazwa aachuuno chakwe chabwaami, mpawo wakagwisya zigogo zyabwaami akuzwaata masaka akali kuzwaatwa abantu bamuchisi chakwe, “akukkala mumulota.” Mwaami “abalupati-pati” bakwe bakabikka mulawu wakuti bantu boonse muchilawu bakeelede kulyimya chakulya alubo bakalayilila kuti bantu boonse bazwaate masaka, kuswaanizya abanyama. b Wakatondeezya kulibombya kwiinda mukuzumina kuti bantu bamuchisi chakwe bakali amulandu wakuchita zibi akulwana. Alubo wakatondeezya kuti wakali aabulangilizi bwakuti Leza wakali kuzoobafwida luzyalo kuti bachincha, kwiinda mukwaamba kuti: “Ambweni Leza mwini-mwini inga wacinca mizeezo kujatikizya ncayanda kucita akuleka bukali bwakwe bupati, ikutegwa tutalobi.”​—Jon. 3:6-9.

9. Niinzi nzibazumbuuzya basikukazya atala abantu bakuNiniva, alubo tuzizi biyeni kuti balisweekede?

⁹ Bamwi basikukazya balazumbuuzya atala akufwambaana kuchincha kwakachitwa aabantu bakuNiniva. Nikuba oobo, basikulanga-langa makani aamuBbayibbili bakabona kuti eezi zilakonzeka nkaambo bantu bakuNiniva bakali kusyoma zyamasalamusi alubo bakali kufwambaana kusyoma kufumbwa chintu nchibamvwa. Kuyungizya waawo, tulizi kuti basikukazya aaba balisweekede nkaambo Jesu Kkristu lwakwe wakaambuula atala akuchincha kwabantu bakuNiniva. (Bala Mateyo 12:41.) Jesu wakalizi kuti makani aaya ngachoonzyo nkaambo wakazibona zintu eezi kazili kuchitika chiindi naakali kujulu. (Joh. 8:57, 58) Tatweelede kuyeeya kuti umwi muntu takonzyi pe kuchincha akaambo kakuti nga tulikubona bupati bwazintu zibi nzyali kuchita. Jehova nguwe kupela uukonzya kubona zili mumoyo wamuntu.

10, 11. (a) Jehova wakachita biyeni chiindi bantu bakuNiniva nibakachincha? (b) Nkamboonzi nitulaachoonzyo chakuti Jehova taakapambanisizye pe naakasala kunyonyoona bantu bakuNiniva?

¹⁰ Jehova wakachita biyeni chiindi bantu bakuNiniva nibakachincha? Jona wakazoolemba kuti: “Lino Leza mwini-mwini naakabona  ncobakacita, mbobakaleka nzila zyabo zibi, wakacinca mizeezo kujatikizya mapenzi ngaakaambide kuti ulabaletela, aboobo tanaakaaleta pe.”​—Jon. 3:10.

¹¹ Eezi zyaamba kuti Jehova wakapambanisya na kusala nkwaakachitide kuti anyonyoone bantu bakuNiniva? Peepe. Bbayibbili litondeezya kuti Leza uubeteka munzila iiluleme. (Bala Deuteronomo 32:4.) Jehova wakabona kakweelela kuti aleke kubanyemena bantu bakuNiniva. Naakabona kuchincha nkubakachita, wakabona kakweelela kuti atabanyonyooni pe. Wakabafwida luzyalo.

12, 13. (a) Jehova wakatondeezya biyeni kuti ulabikkila maanu akuti ulaaluzyalo? (b) Nkamboonzi bupolofita bwaJona nibwakatali bwakubeja?

¹² Jehova tali mbuli mbubaamba bayiisi bazikombelo bapa kuti bantu babonaanga kuti waamba, waamba. Pesi ulakonzya kuchincha kuti kakweelela alubo ulaaluzyalo. Katananyonyoona bantu bachita zibi, usaanguna akutuma babelesi bakwe kuti bape nchenjezyo akaambo kakuti ulaachiyandisyo chakuti bantu bachinche mbuli mbubakachita bantu bakuNiniva. (Ezk. 33:11) Jehova wakabuzya mupolofita Jeremiya kuti: “Kufwumbwa ciindi nendaamba kujatikizya bwami naa cisi kuti ndilacizyula, ndilacimwaya alimwi akucinyonyoona, mpoonya cisi eeco caleka bubi bwancico oobo mbondaamba, nkokuti andime ndilacinca maano kujatikizya mapenzi ngondali kukanza kuciletela.”​—Jer. 18:7, 8.

¹³ Bupolofita bwaJona bwakali bwakubeja na? Peepe; bwakazuzikizya makanze aabo. Nkaambo bwakali kuchenjezya bantu bakuNiniva atala azintu zibi nzibakali kuchita alubo bakachincha. Kaansinga teebakachincha pe akusiya michito yabo mibi, Leza wakali kuyoobanyonyoona. Eezi nzizyo nzyaakazoochita mukuya kwachiindi.​—Zef. 2:13-15.

14. Jona wakachita biyeni chiindi Jehova naakabafwida luzyalo bantu bakuNiniva?

¹⁴ Jona wakachita biyeni chiindi bantu bakuNiniva nibatakanyonyoonwa aachiindi nchaakali kuyeeyela? Tubala kuti: “Pele Jona wakabijilwa kapati, alimwi wakanyema kapati akaambo kamakani aaya.” (Jon. 4:1) Jona wakakomba kali kusola Leza. Wakaamba kuti zyakali kabotu kuti kaansinga wakaleka kuza kuNiniva akukkala kulimbabo. Alubo wakaamba kuti wakalizi kuti Jehova taakali kuyoobanyonyoona pe bantu bakuNiniva, eezi nzizyo zyakapede kuti achijile kuTashishi mulweendo lwakusaanguna. Alubo Jona wakakumbila kuti afwe, akaambo kakuti wakali kubonaanga kufwa kuli kabotu kwiinda kupona.​—Bala Jona 4:2, 3.

15. (a) Kweelede kuti niinzi chakapa kuti Jona anyeme? (b) Jehova wakamuchita biyeni mupolofita wakwe wakakataazikene?

¹⁵ Niinzi chakapa kuti Jona anyeme? Tatuzi pe kuti niinzi nzyaakayeeya. Pesi nchituzi nchakuti Jona wakali waambilizya kuti muunzi  waNiniva wakali kuyoonyonyoonwa alubo bantu bakamuswiilila. Pesi lunyonyooko ndwaakaambilizya teelwakasika pe. Amwi wakayeeya kuti bantu bakali kuzoomuseka akwaamba kuti mupolofita wakubeja. Kufumbwa zyakachitika, Jona taakabotelwa pe akaambo kakuti bantu bakuNiniva bakachincha akuti Jehova wakabafwida luzyalo. Pesi kubonekaanga wakakataazikana atala ampuwo yakwe kuti bantu bakali kuyoomubona biyeni. Nikuba kuti Jona wakachita oobo, zili aantanganana kuti Jehova wakabona zibotu kumupolofita wakwe wakakataazikene. Taakwe naakamupanicha pe akaambo kakutamulemeka pesi wakamubuzya mubuzyo wakali kuyoopa kuti ayeeyesesye, wakamubuzya kuti: “Sena cili kabotu kunyema boobo mboonyema?” (Jon. 4:4) Jona wakawusandula na mubuzyo ooyu? Bbayibbili talitubuzyi pe.

16. Muzyiimo zili bamwi mubakonzya kukazyania aLeza, alubo chikozyano chaJona chituyiisyaanzi?

¹⁶ Nkuuba kubeteka Jona kuti nzila njaakachitaayo teeyakali kabotu, pesi tweelede kuyeeya kuti chiindi chiingi chibi chipa kuti tutazuminani aaLeza. Bamwi balakonzya kusyoma kuti Jehova weelede kubakwabilila kuti batawidwi aamapenzi naakuti weelede kumubeteka chakufwambaana umwi muntu wachita chintu chibi naakuti weelede kuti kali wakaayeta chiindi mamanino aanyika eeyi mbi. Chikozyano chaJona chituyiisya kuti, kuti twaba aamaboneno aasiyene aamaboneno aJehova, tweelede kuziba kuti maboneno eesu ngawo aayeelede kubambululwa kutali aaJehova pe.

17, 18. (a) Jona wakachitaanzi chiindi naakazwa muNiniva? (b) Jona wakamvwa biyeni atala achigambyo chaLeza chachisyango chili mbuli cheecho chizyala myuungu?

¹⁷ Mupolofita ooyu wakakataazikene wakazwa mumuunzi waNiniva, pesi taakayinka kulimbabo pe. Wakayinka kubuzwezuba, mundawu yakali aazilundu ooko nkwaakali kukonzya kuubona kabotu muunzi waNiniva. Wakayaka mweenzule mpawo wakakkala kali kulindila. Kweelede kuti wakali kulangilila kubona muunzi waNiniva kuli kunyonyoonwa. Jehova wakamuyiisya biyeni mupolofita wakwe ooyu wakatali kulekelela kuti abe aaluzyalo?

¹⁸ Mansiku, Jehova wakamezya chisyango chili mbuli cheecho chizyala myuungu. Jona naakabuka wakajana chisyango eecho kachili aamatu mapati aakali kupa kuti kube mweenzule wiinda ngwaakayakide. Wakabotelwa. Bbayibbili lyaamba kuti: “Jona wakakondwa kapati akaambo kacisyango eeco.” Kweelede kuti wakachibona mbuli chitondeezyo chakuti Leza wakachili kumuyanda akumulongezya. Nikuba oobo, Jehova wakali kuyanda kuyiisya Jona zimwi zyiiyo ziyandikana kutali kumukwabilila kuti atapyi aazuba akuti aleke kunyema kupela. Wakali kuyanda kumuyiisya munzila iimusika aamoyo  Jona. Nkinkaako, Jehova wakachita zimwi zigambyo. Wakatuma wemusi kuti lilye chisyango eecho, mpawo chakafwa. Alubo wakatuma “muwo wakujwe uupya kapati” zyakuti Jona “wakanetuka” akaambo kakupya. Jona wakakataazikana alubo wakabuzya Jehova kuti kwakali kabotu kuti afwe.​—Jon. 4:6-8.

19, 20. Jehova wakamugwasya biyeni Jona kuti ayeeyesesye atala ankani yachisyango chizyala bana bali mbuli myuungu?

¹⁹ Jehova wakayindulula lubo kubuzya Jona kuti kwakali kweelela na kuti anyeme akaambo kakufwa kwachisyango. Kwiinda kuti alisole, Jona wakasandula kuti: “Ndilinyemede kapati cakuti ncondiyanda buyo nkufwa.” Lino chakali chaba chiindi chili kabotu chakuti Jehova abuzye Jona zyiiyo nzyaakali kuyanda kumuyiisya.​—Jon. 4:9.

²⁰ Jehova wakagwasya Jona kuti ayeeyesesye kwiinda mukumubuzya kuti wakali kukataazikana akaambo kachisyango chakakomena mubuzuba bumwi ichakali chafwa pesi kakuli teenguwe pe wakachibyala naakuti kuchikomezya. Alubo wakamanisya aamajwi aakuti:  “Sena mebo tandeelede kuufwida lubomba munzi mupati wa Nineve, oomo imuli bantu bainda ku 120,000 ibatacizyi nokuba kwiindanya cibi acibotu, antoomwe abanyama babo banji?”​—Jon. 4:10, 11.

21. (a) Nchiichili chiiyo chiyandikana Jehova nchaakayiisya Jona? (b) Nkani yaJona itugwasya biyeni kuti tulilange-lange?

²¹ Mwachibona na chiiyo chiyandikana Jehova nchaakali kuyanda kuyiisya Jona? Jona takwe nchaakabeleka pe kuti chisyango eecho chikomene. Pesi Jehova nguwe wakali kupa buumi kubantu bakuNiniva alubo nguwe wakali kubagwasya kuti bazumanane kupona mbuli mbachita kuzilenge zyoonse zili aanyika. Jona wakali kubikkila maanu kuchisyango chimwi kwiinda kuti abikkile maanu bantu bayinda ku 120 000 kuswaanizya abanyama babo. Nkamboonzi Jona naakachita oobo? Kweelede kuti wakachita oobo akaambo kakulibikkila maanu lwakwe. Kuyungizya waawo, Jona wakanyema akaambo kachisyango eecho nkaambo chakali kumugwasya kwiinda mukumupa mweenzule. Alubo, Jona wakanyema akaambo kakuti Niniva teeyakanyonyoonwa pe, akaambo kakuti wakali kuliyanda alubo wakali kuyanda kukwabilila mpuwo yakwe kuti abonekaanga muntu uuli kabotu. Nkani yaJona itugwasya kubona kuti tweelede kulilanga-langa nkaambo toonse chimwi chiindi nga twalibikkila maanu kwiinda bamwi. Tulamulumba Jehova nkaambo ututondeezya moyo mulamfu kwiinda mukutuyiisya kuti tube bantu babikkila bamwi maanu, beetelela bamwi alubo bali aaluzyalo mbuli nguwe!

22. (a) Jona wakagwasigwa biyeni amalayilile aaJehova aali atala akufwida bamwi luzyalo? (b) Nchiichili chiiyo nchitweelede kuyiya?

²² Mubuzyo uusyaala ngwakuti: Jona wakayiya na kuzwa kuchiiyo nchaakayiisigwa aaJehova? Bbuku lyiitwa azina lyakwe limana aamubuzyo waJehova kulengelede. Bamwi basikukazya baamba kuti Jona taakwe naakasandula pe. Pesi kasimpe nkakuti nsandulo mpiili. Bbuku lyakwe njiyo nsandulo eeyo. Kuli bukamboni butondeezya kuti Jona nguwe wakalemba bbuku lyiitwa aazina lyakwe. Yeeya mupolofita ooyo kali kuli mbabo, kali kulemba zyakamuchitikila. Mubone kali wachembaala, kalaabusongo alubo kalibombya, kali kutikinia mutwe chiindi nali kupandulula atala akupapila kwakwe akukaka kufwida bamwi luzyalo. Zili aantanganana kuti Jona wakayiya chiiyo chiyandikana Jehova nchaakali kuyanda kumuyiisya. Wakayiya kuba aaluzyalo. Ubafwida luzyalo na bamwi anduwe?​—Bala Mateyo 5:7.