Ruthu na EstaRuth and Esther — Sehemu ya 9Unit 9

Esta 8–10 — Ukombozi, Ushindi, na PurimuEsther 8–10 — Deliverance, Conquest, and Purim

Mambo TunayoyaonaObservations

Kisasi cha Mungu ni kamilifu. Hamani anatundikwa juu ya mti aliouweka kwa ajili ya Mordekai; Mordekai anachukua nafasi ya Hamani katika ufalme, hata akitumia pete ya muhuri ya mfalme kutia muhuri amri mpya; Mordekai anapata mali yote ya Hamani; na Wayahudi wanawaangamiza wale waliotaka kuwaua, wakiwemo wana kumi wa Hamani. Uovu wote aliokusudia Hamani unamrudia yeye mwenyewe na wafuasi wake.God's vengeance is perfect. Haman is hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai; Mordecai assumes Haman's place in royalty, even using the king's signet ring to sign a new decree; Mordecai gains all of Haman's estate; and the Jews annihilate those who wished to kill them, including Haman's ten sons. All the evil Haman planned comes back on him and his supporters.

Angalia jinsi Esta anavyozungumza na mfalme kwa ajili ya watu wake — anamheshimu, akianguka miguuni pake na kulia. Mordekai alikataa kumsujudia Hamani, hivyo hawakuwa na tatizo lolote kuwaheshimu wale waliowaona kuwa wanastahili heshima.Notice Esther's address to the king on behalf of her people — she gives him deference, falling at his feet and weeping. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, so they had no problem honoring those they felt deserved it.

Anasema, 'Ikimpendeza mfalme, na ikiwa nimepata kibali mbele zake, na jambo hili likionekana kuwa jema mbele ya mfalme, nami nikiwa nimependeza machoni pake.' Maneno haya yanaonyesha hekima yake na hadhi yake mbele ya mumewe, mfalme.She says, 'If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor before him, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight.' These phrases show her wisdom and her standing with her husband the king.

8:11: mfalme aliwapa Wayahudi haki ya kukusanyika na kuzitetea nafsi zao, kuangamiza jeshi lolote ambalo lingewashambulia, pamoja na watoto na wanawake wa jeshi hilo lenyewe, na kuteka nyara. Amri hii inafanana, karibu neno kwa neno, na amri ya kwanza dhidi ya Wayahudi (3:13) — upanga ambao Hamani aliwafulia Wayahudi unawageukia wale ambao wangeutumia dhidi yao. Ni rehema ngumu kusoma, na wafasiri waaminifu wamehangaika nayo; maandiko hayalainishi jambo hili, nasi pia hatupaswi kulilainisha. Kumbuka kwamba Wayahudi walipewa ruhusa ya kuteka nyara — tutarudi kwenye jambo hilo.8:11: the king granted the Jews the right to assemble and defend their lives, to destroy any force that might attack them, including that force's own children and women, and to plunder. The decree mirrors, almost word for word, the earlier decree against the Jews (3:13) — the sword Haman forged for the Jews is turned back on those who would wield it against them. It is a hard mercy to read, and honest interpreters have wrestled with it; the text does not soften it, and neither should we. Note the Jews were given permission to plunder — we'll return to that.

Kama ilivyo katika hadithi nzima, matukio huja kwa jozi: kwa mara ya pili Mordekai anavikwa mavazi ya kifalme, lakini sasa inakuwa ya kudumu.As throughout the story, events come in pairs: for a second time Mordecai is arrayed as royalty, but now it becomes permanent.

8:17: 'Wayahudi walikuwa na furaha na shangwe, karamu na sikukuu. Na watu wengi wa nchi wakawa Wayahudi, kwa maana hofu ya Wayahudi imewaangukia.' 'Hofu' hiyo kwa kweli ni kumcha Mungu wa Wayahudi anayewaokoa watu wake. Wakawa waongofu (wageuzwa imani) wakitumaini kupata ulinzi huo huo.8:17: 'There was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.' The 'dread' is really fear of the Jewish God who saves His people. They became proselytes hoping to gain that same protection.

Hata wakuu, maliwali, na watawala waliokuwa wakishughulikia mambo ya mfalme waliwasaidia Wayahudi.Even the princes, satraps, and governors doing the king's business assisted the Jews.

Hofu ya Mordekai: kila mwenye mamlaka sasa anaelewa kwamba Mordekai Myahudi ni wa pili baada ya mfalme.The dread of Mordecai: everyone in power now understands Mordecai the Jew is second only to the king.

Huko Shushani wanaua watu 500, wakiwemo wana wa Hamani — lakini hawateki nyara. Wanajiondolea tu wale ambao wangewaua.In Susa they kill 500 men, including Haman's sons — but they do not plunder. They only rid themselves of those who would kill them.

9:13: Esta anaomba kwamba siku inayofuata nayo itolewe, na kwamba wana wa Hamani watundikwe juu ya mti — labda njama nyingine iligunduliwa au kazi ilikuwa haijakamilika; miili iliyotundikwa ilisimama kama onyo. Siku iliyofuata waliua watu wengine 300 mjini, bado bila kuteka nyara.9:13: Esther asks that the next day also be granted and that Haman's sons be hanged on the gallows — either another plot was uncovered or the work was unfinished; the hanged bodies stood as a warning. The next day they killed 300 more in the city, still without plundering.

Katika majimbo Wayahudi waliua watu 75,000 — ushahidi wa chuki dhidi ya Wayahudi iliyoenea kote — lakini tena hawakuteka nyara.In the provinces the Jews killed 75,000 — evidence of widespread anti-Semitism — but again they did not plunder.

Wayahudi walisherehekea siku ya 14 na ya 15 kulingana na mahali walipoishi, wakifanya karamu, wakipelekeana sehemu za vyakula, na kuwapa maskini zawadi.The Jews celebrated on the 14th and 15th depending on where they lived, feasting, sending portions of food to one another, and giving gifts to the poor.

Mordekai na Esta waliandika ili kuithibitisha sikukuu hiyo, iliyoitwa amri ya Esta; ikawa desturi kwao, kwa wazao wao, na kwa wote walioungana nao — Sikukuu ya Purimu.Mordecai and Esther wrote to establish the holiday, called the command of Esther; it became a custom for them and their descendants and all allied with them — the Feast of Purim.

Puri ikawa ishara ya Mungu kutumia mazingira ili kuwaokoa walio wake — ndiyo sababu wanafunzi walipiga kura ili kumchagua atakayechukua nafasi ya Yuda.Pur became a symbol of God using circumstances to deliver His own — hence the disciples casting lots to replace Judas.

Ahasuero (Xerxes) alikuwa mfuasi halisi wa dini ya Zoroasta — mwenye kuamini Mungu mmoja, pamoja na mfumo wa uwili wa wema na uovu, mtangulizi wa kutovumiliana kwa kidini kwa nyakati za baadaye. Aliiharibu sanamu ya Babeli, Beli Marduki, mungu ambaye Mordekai alipewa jina lake. Kwa hiyo Esta kuwasihi watu wake mara mbili ilikuwa hatari kubwa mno.Xerxes was an orthodox Zoroastrian — monotheistic with a dualistic good/evil system, a precursor to later religious intolerance. He destroyed Babylon's idol Bel Marduk, the god for which Mordecai is named. So for Esther to plead for her people twice was a huge risk.

Lakini ni wazi kwamba Ahasuero alimpenda Esta na angefanya lolote kwa ajili yake. Mordekai na Esta waliinua hadhi ya kuwa Myahudi, kwa sababu wote walikuwa wameuona utoaji wa Mungu na wokovu wake kwa Wayahudi.But Xerxes clearly loved Esther and would do anything for her. Mordecai and Esther elevated the status of being Jewish, because all had seen God's providence and salvation for the Jews.

Kwa nini mtu yeyote angeendelea kutekeleza amri ya kwanza baada ya kupokea ile ya pili? Hiyo kwa kweli ni chuki kubwa dhidi ya Wayahudi.Why would anyone still carry out the first decree after receiving the second? That is strong anti-Semitism indeed.

Tom Constable anaeleza: kukosekana kwa kutajwa wazi kwa Mungu akiwasaidia watu wake hakukani msaada wake; kunaakisi mtazamo wa Wayahudi waliopuuza amri za Mungu kupitia Isaya na Yeremia za kurudi katika nchi. Walikuwa wamemweka Mungu kando, kama vile Mordekai na Esta walivyofanya kwa kiasi fulani — lakini Mungu alibaki mwaminifu kwa ahadi zake licha ya kutokuwa waaminifu kwa watu wake.Tom Constable notes: the absence of explicit reference to God helping His people does not deny His help; it reflects the attitude of Jews who ignored God's commands through Isaiah and Jeremiah to return to the land. They had pushed God aside, as Mordecai and Esther had to some extent — yet God remained faithful to His promises despite His people's unfaithfulness.

TafsiriInterpretations

Ni mara chache tunapata kuona kisasi cha Mungu tunapohisi tumedhulumiwa. Kwa kawaida maisha hayaeleweki kwa urahisi, yana utata na ugumu kuliko hadithi nzuri — hasa kwa Wakristo, ambao daima wanajichunguza na kutafuta uongozi wa Roho. Hapa mhalifu anafichuliwa upesi, haki na uovu viko wazi kwa sehemu kubwa, na tunaona adhabu ya Mungu juu ya wale ambao wangewadhuru watu wake aliowachagua.Seldom do we get to see God's vengeance when we feel wronged. Usually life is more fluid, sticky, and ambiguous than a good story — especially for Christians, who are constantly self-examining and seeking the Spirit's guidance. Here the villain is readily exposed, right and wrong are mostly clear, and we see God's retribution on those who would harm His chosen people.

Mojawapo ya mawazo yanayotia moyo zaidi ni kwamba wokovu wetu hautegemei sisi bali unamtegemea Mungu mwenye upendo anayetamani kuwaokoa watoto wake bila kujali tunashindwa vibaya kiasi gani.One of the most encouraging thoughts is that our salvation depends not on us but on a loving God who desires to save His children regardless of how badly we fail.

Kwamba 'watu wengi wakawa Wayahudi' kunaibua swali la jinsi tunavyoshiriki Injili leo. Ni mara chache tunaona uovu ukipinduliwa kabisa, lakini kuna miujiza ya kila siku. Mungu anajifunua leo kupitia sisi tunapoakisi nuru ya Kristo — tukiwapenda wengine na kutangaza kweli kwa wema, upole, na upendo; tukiingia mahali penye giza pa maumivu, umaskini, dhuluma, magonjwa, na dhambi si ili kuhukumu bali kushiriki upendo wa Kristo; jumuiya inayotambulika kwa upendo wa kujitoa sadaka.That 'many became Jews' raises how we share the gospel today. We rarely see a complete reversal of evil, but there are everyday miracles. God reveals Himself today by our reflecting the light of Christ — loving others and proclaiming truth in kindness, gentleness, and love; entering the dark places of pain, poverty, injustice, sickness, and sin not to condemn but to share Christ's love; a community defined by self-sacrificial love.

Dumisheni mwenendo mnyoofu — msichukue nyara. Katika kila jambo tunamtukuza Kristo au tunalikufuru jina lake; tutende ipasavyo kwa upendo.Remain upright in conduct — don't take the spoils. In everything we either glorify Christ or blaspheme His name; act accordingly with love.

Tusimweke Mungu kando katika maisha yetu bali tumfanye kuwa kitovu chetu, na tusimzimishe Roho Mtakatifu aliye ndani yetu.Let us not push God aside in our lives but keep Him our focus, and not quench the Holy Spirit within us.

MatumiziApplications

Je, kwa kweli sisi ni kioo cha nuru ya Mungu? Upendo wake kwa watu ulikuwa mzuri na wa kudumu daima, lakini ndivyo ilivyokuwa pia kweli yake — sikuzote alisema kweli kwa upendo, na wengi waligeuka na kuondoka. Tusitarajie tofauti. Watu watajua kwamba sisi ni Wakristo kwa upendo wetu, lakini upendo peke yake si jambo lote.Are we truly a reflection of God's light? His love for people was beautiful and ever-present, but so was His truth — He always spoke the truth in love, and many turned away. We should expect no different. People will know we are Christians by our love, but love alone is not the whole of it.

Je, nimejiandaa kushiriki ushuhuda wangu wa yale ambayo Kristo amefanya maishani mwangu?Am I prepared to share my testimony of what Christ has done in my life?