1, 2. (a) Chaza luhambo lwaRuthe naNawomi kanye nelusizi lebebabhekene nalo. (b) Bewuyini umehluko emkhatsini weluhambo lwaRuthe nelwaNawomi?

RUTHE abehamba naNawomi endleleni lendze leyendlula ematsafeni akaMowabi, laphakeme futsi lahhusha umoya. Besebasele bodvwa manje, sebatitfuntanyana nje kulesiganga lesivulekile. Asewumbuke ngemehlo engcondvo Ruthe sekacala kubona lilanga liyotilahla kunina, abuka uninatala acabanga kutsi akusiso yini sikhatsi sekutsi bacale kufuna indzawo yekufihla inhloko kulobo busuku. Abemtsandza kakhulu Nawomi futsi abengenta nome ngabe yini kute amnakekele.

² Omabili lamakhosikati abeselusizini lolukhulu. Nawomi abesaneminyaka leminyenti angumfelokati, kodvwa manje abelilela kakhulu emadvodzana akhe lamabili lasandza kushona, boKhiliyoni naMahaloni. Ruthe naye abelila, ngobe Mahaloni abeyindvodza yakhe. Yena kanye naNawomi bebalibangise endzaweni lefanako, edolobheni laseBhetlehema, ka-Israyeli. Kodvwa nanobe bebaya endzaweni yinye, luhambo lwabo belusho tintfo letehlukene. KuNawomi belusho kubuyela ekhaya. KuRuthe konkhe bekutawuba kusha ngobe abeshiya emuva umndeni wakubo, indzawo yakubo, ngisho nawo onkhe emasiko akhona​—lokufaka ekhatsi bonkulunkulu bakhona.​—Fundza Ruthe 1:3-6.

3. Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawuphendvulelwa yona lengasisita silingise kukholwa kwaRuthe?

³ Yini lebeyingabangela lomfati losemusha kutsi ente lushintjo lolukhulu kangaka ekuphileni kwakhe? Ruthe abetawatfolaphi emandla ekutiphilisa kulesimo lesisha aphindze anakekele naNawomi? Kuva timphendvulo talemibuto kungasisita sitfole lokunyenti lesingakulingisa ekukholweni kwalomMowabi longuRuthe. (Fundza nelibhokisi lelitsi  “Incwadzi Lencane Ledla Lubhedvu.”) Kwekucala, asesihlole kutsi kwenteka njani kutsi labafati lababili batsatse loluhambo loludze kangaka loluya eBhetlehema.

4, 5. (a) Yini leyabangela kutsi umndeni waNawomi utfutsele kaMowabi? (b) Ngutiphi tinsayeya Nawomi labhekana nato ngesikhatsi akaMowabi?

⁴ Ruthe wakhulela kaMowabi, live lelincane lelisemphumalanga  yeLwandle Lolufile. Lesifundza besinetihlahla letitse gcwa gcwa ematsafeni laphakeme lahlukaniswe tihosha letijulile. ‘Live lakaMowabi’ belihlale livundzile ngisho nome kunendlala ka-Israyeli. Ecinisweni nguloko lokwabangela Ruthe kutsi ahlangane kwekucala naMahaloni kanye nemndeni wakubo.​—Rut. 1:1.

⁵ Indlala lebeyika-Israyeli yabangela Elimeleki, indvodza yaNawomi kutsi atsatse umfati wakhe kanye nemadvodzana akhe lamabili eveni lakubo, ahambe ayohlala nabo njengetihambi eveni lakaMowabi. Kufanele kutsi lokutfutsa kwaletsa tinsayeya ekukholweni kwalomndeni, ngobe ema-Israyeli bekudzingeka akhonte Jehova ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi endzaweni lengcwele lebekayilungiselele. (Dut. 16:16, 17) Nawomi wakhona kuchubeka anekukholwa. Nanome kunjalo, watikhandza aselusizini lolukhulu ngesikhatsi indvodza yakhe ifa.​—Rut. 1:2, 3.

6, 7. (a) Yini lokungenteka beyingabangela kutsi Nawomi akhatsateke ngalesikhatsi emadvodzana akhe ashada netintfombi takaMowabi? (b) Kungani indlela Nawomi laphatsa ngayo bomakoti bakhe yayincomeka?

⁶ Kungenteka kutsi Nawomi waphindze weva buhlungu ngalesikhatsi emadvodzana akhe ashada nebafati bakaMowabi. (Rut. 1:4) Nawomi bekati kutsi khokho wesive sakubo, Abrahama, wenta umetamo lomkhulu kute atfolele indvodzana yakhe Isaka umfati kubantfu bakubo lebebakhonta Jehova. (Gen. 24:3, 4) Ngemuva kwaloko, uMtsetfo waMosi wecwayisa ema-Israyeli kutsi angawavumeli emadvodzana kanye nemadvodzakati awo ashade nebetive, ngobe loko bekutawuholela labantfu baNkulunkulu ekukhonteni titfombe.​—Dut. 7:3, 4.

⁷ Nome kunjalo, boMahaloni naKhiliyoni bashada netintfombi takaMowabi. Ngisho nome kungenteka kutsi Nawomi kwakumkhatsata loku, abeciniseka kutsi bomakoti bakhe, boRuthe na-Opha ubaphatsa ngemusa nangelutsandvo. Kungenteka bekanelitsemba lekutsi nabo ngalelinye lilanga batawukhonta Jehova njengaye. Kunobe ngukuphi, kuyabonakala kutsi boRuthe na-Opha bebamtsandza Nawomi. Lobuhlobo lobuhle lebebanabo babasita ngalesikhatsi sebahlaselwa lusizi. Labafati lababili baba bafelokati basengakatfoli ngisho nebantfwana.​—Rut. 1:5.

8. Yini lokungenteka yadvonsela Ruthe kuJehova?

⁸ Inkholo Ruthe labekhuliswe ngayo yamenta walulungela yini lusizi lolunjena? Kusebaleni kutsi beyingakakhoni kumenta alulungele. EmaMowabi abekhonta bonkulunkulu labanyenti, futsi nkulunkulu labehamba phambili kubo kwakunguKhemoshi. (Num. 21:29) Kubonakala shengatsi inkholo yemaMowabi yayingene shi emikhubeni leyayivamile yangaleso sikhatsi, lefaka ekhatsi kubulala ngesibhuku, nekunikela ngebantfwana kutsi babe ngumhlatjelo. Kuyacaca kutsi nome ngabe yini Ruthe layifundza kuMahaloni nome kuNawomi mayelana naJehova, Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli lonelutsandvo nesihawu, yamenta wabona umehluko lomkhulu. Jehova abebusa ngelutsandvo hhayi ngelunya. (Fundza Dutheronomi 6:5.) Ngemuva kwekulahlekelwa kwakhe lokukhulu, kungenteka kutsi Ruthe wasondzelana kakhulu  naNawomi futsi walalela ngenkhaphunkhaphu ngesikhatsi lomfati losakhulile akhuluma ngaJehova longuNkulunkulu Somandla, achaza ngemisebenti yakhe lemangalisako, lutsandvo lwakhe kanye nesihawu lasibonisa bantfu.

9-11. (a) Ngusiphi sincumo lesentiwa boNawomi, Ruthe, kanye na-Opha? (b) Yini lesingayifundza enhlekeleleni leyehlela boNawomi, Ruthe, kanye na-Opha?

⁹ Nawomi abelangatelela kuva kutsi tintfo tihamba njani eveni lakubo. Ngalelinye lilanga, umuntfu lotsite lokungenteka kutsi abehamba atsengisa, wamtjela kutsi indlala seyiphelile ka-Israyeli. Jehova abesacalile kusita bantfu bakhe. EBhetlehema, sinkhwa besesiyinala, sekuhambisana nalenchazelo yaleligama lelitsi Bhetlehema, lelisho kutsi “Indlu Yesinkhwa.” Nawomi wancuma kubuyela ekhaya.​—Rut. 1:6.

¹⁰ Bebatawukwenta njani boRuthe na-Opha? (Rut. 1:7) Besebangematse nelulwimi naNawomi, kwatise kutsi bonkhe bebabhekene nesimo lesifanako sekuba bafelokati. Kubonakala shengatsi Ruthe yena abedvonswe ngumusa waNawomi kanye nekukholwa kwakhe lokucinile kuJehova. Labafelokati labatsatfu bahamba kanye kanye balibangisa kaJuda.

¹¹ Lendzaba yaRuthe isikhumbuta kutsi inhlekelele nekulahlekelwa kwehlela kokubili bantfu labalungile nalabetsembekile kanye nalababi. (Shu. 9:2, 11) Iphindze isikhombise kutsi nasibhekene nelusizi lokumatima kulubeketelela, sitawube senta ngekuhlakanipha nasisondzela kulabanye labatasidvudvuta baphindze basente sitive sikhululekile​—ikakhulukati labo labaphephela kuJehova, Nkulunkulu labekhontwa nguNawomi.​—Taga 17:17.

12, 13. Yini leyenta Nawomi watsi boRuthe na-Opha ababuyele emakhaya akubo kunekutsi bahambe naye, futsi yini labayenta ekucaleni?

¹² Njengobe labafelokati labatsatfu bebaya bakhweshelana nendzawo yakaMowabi, Nawomi waphindze wacala kukhatsateka. Wacabanga ngalabafati labasebancane lebebaseceleni kwakhe kanye nangelutsandvo lebebambonise lona yena nemadvodzana akhe. Bekumkhatsata kutsi kungenteka atikhandze asangeta lolunye lusizi kubo. Nabashiya live lakubo bahamba naye, abetawufike abasite ngani eBhetlehema?

¹³ Ekugcineni, Nawomi watsi kubo: “Ncandzekani, nibuyele emakhaya akini. Shangatsi Simakadze anganiphatsa ngemusa, njengobe  benibaphetse ngemusa nani bafi, labangemadvodzana ami, kantsi nami futsi beningiphetse kahle.” Waphindze wabatjela ngelitsemba labenalo lekutsi Jehova utababusisa ngalamanye emadvodza, nangemiti lemisha. Lendzaba ichubeka itsi: “Ngako wabavalelisa ngekubanga, bakhala.” Kumelula kubona kutsi yini lebeyibangela boRuthe na-Opha banamatsele kangaka kulomfati lonemusa futsi longaticabangeli yena. Ngako bobabili baphikelela batsi: “Cha, sitawuhamba nawe siye esiveni sakini.”​—Rut. 1:8-10.

14, 15. (a) Ngutiphi tintfo Opha labuyela kuto? (b) Wetama njani Nawomi kuncenga Ruthe kutsi angahambi naye?

¹⁴ Kodvwa Nawomi akazange amane avumelane nabo kalula kuloku. Waphikelela etama kubabonisa kutsi bekukuncane kakhulu labengabentela kona ka-Israyeli, ngobe abengasenayo indvodza lebeyitamondla, ete nemadvodzana labengabashada, futsi angekho nalamancane ematfuba ekutsi tintfo tingalunga. Wabachazela kutsi bekumphatsa kabi kakhulu kungakhoni kwakhe kubanakekela. Opha wavele wabona kutsi Nawomi ucinisile. Abenemndeni kaMowabi, anamake, futsi anelikhaya lakubo. Betibonakala tiphatseka tizatfu tekusala kaMowabi. Ngekudvumala lokukhulu, wanga Nawomi wase ubuyela emuva.​—Rut. 1:11-14.

¹⁵ Abetawukwenta njani-ke Ruthe? Phela lamavi aNawomi abecondziswe nakuye. Lendzaba ichubeka itsi: “Kodvwa Ruthe wanamatsela kuye.” Kungenteka kutsi Nawomi abesavele ahamba ngesikhatsi atsi uyabuka wabona Ruthe amlandzela. Wetama kumncenga watsi: “Angitsi uyabona kutsi dzadzewenu sewuhambile wabuyela kubo, nawe-ke ncandzeka kanye naye.” (Rut. 1:15) Emavi aNawomi embula umniningwane lomcoka kulabo labawafundzako. Opha abengakabuyeli kubantfu bakubo nje kuphela, kodvwa abebuyele ‘nakubonkulunkulu bakhe.’ Abetimisele kuchubeka akhonta Khemoshi kanye nalabanye bonkulunkulu bemanga. Ruthe abetimisele kwenta lokufanako yini?

16-18. (a) Ruthe walubonisa njani lutsandvo lolucotfo? (b) Yini lesingayifundza kuRuthe mayelana nelutsandvo lolucotfo? (Buka naletitfombe talabafati lababili emakhasini 36-37.)

 ¹⁶ Ruthe abeciniseka ngalokuphelele ngesincumo sakhe njengobe abemile kuleyondlela abuke Nawomi. Abemtsandza kakhulu Nawomi kuhlanganise naNkulunkulu labekhontwa nguNawomi. Wase utsi: “Ngicela ungangincengi kutsi ngikushiye. Ngiyekele, ngihambe nawe. Lapho uya khona, nami ngitakuya khona; lapho uyawuhlala khona, nami ngiyawuhlala khona. Sive sakini, kuyawuba sive sami; naNkulunkulu wakho kube nguNkulunkulu wami. Lapho uyawufela khona, nami ngiyawungcwatjwa khona. Shangatsi [Jehova, NW] angangijezisa kakhulu, nangabe mine ngingavumela nome ngabe yini, ngaphandle kwekufa, kutsi kusehlukanise.”​—Rut. 1:16, 17.

¹⁷ Lamavi aRuthe adla lubhedvu kangangekutsi ngisho nangemuva kweminyaka lecishe ibe ngu-3 000 Ruthe afa, bantfu solo bayawakhumbula. Lamavi alugcamisa kahle lutsandvo lolucotfo, loluyintfo lenhle kakhulu. Lolutsandvo Ruthe labenalo belunemandla kakhulu futsi lucotfo kangangekutsi abetimisele kuba naNawomi nome ngukuphi lapho abeya khona. Bebangahlukaniswa kufa kuphela. Sive sakuboNawomi bekutawuba sive sakubo, ngobe Ruthe abetimisele kushiya konkhe labekwetayele kaMowabi, ngisho nabonkulunkulu bakhona. Ngalokungafanani na-Opha, Ruthe abengakhona kusho ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni kutsi ufuna Nkulunkulu waNawomi longuJehova asale aba nguNkulunkulu wakhe. *

¹⁸ Bachubeka bahamba sebabobabili kulendlela lendze leya eBhetlehema. Nakulinganiswa, loluhambo kungenteka lwabatsatsa liviki lonkhe. Nome kunjalo, kuyakhanya kutsi ngamunye kulaba lababili abetfola indvudvuto kulona lomunye nangetulu kwelusizi lebebabhekene nalo.

19. Ucabanga kutsi singalulingisa njani lutsandvo lolucotfo lolunjengelwaRuthe emindenini yetfu, kubangani betfu, nasebandleni?

¹⁹ Lamuhla, bantfu labanyenti babhekene nelusizi. Kulesikhatsi lesiphila kuso, liBhayibheli lelisibita ngekutsi “tikhatsi letimatima,” sibhekana nato tonkhe tinhlobo tekulahlekelwa kanye netinsizi. (2 Thim. 3:1) Lolutsandvo lolucotfo lolwaboniswa nguRuthe ludzingeka kakhulu kwendlula nobe kunini ngaphambili. Lutsandvo lolucotfo, lokulutsandvo lolunamatsela kulokutsite lungasuki, lungemandla lamakhulu kakhulu labangela kutsi kwenteke lokuhle kulelive lelingajabulisi. Siyaludzinga emshadweni, ebudlelwaneni bemndeni, ekwakheni bangani, kanye nasebandleni lebuKhristu. (Fundza 1 Johane 4:7, 8, 20.) Nasibonisa loluhlobo lwelutsandvo, sitawube silingisa sibonelo lesihle saRuthe.

20-22. (a) Kuhlala kwaNawomi kaMowabi kwambangela luphi lushintjo? (b) Ngumuphi umbono loliphutsa Nawomi labenawo ngebumatima labebhekene nabo? (Fundza naJakobe 1:13.)

²⁰ Kumane usho ngemlomo kutsi unelutsandvo lolucotfo kwehlukile kunekulubonisa ngetento. Ruthe abenelitfuba lekubonisa lutsandvo lwakhe lolucotfo hhayi kuNawomi nje kuphela kodvwa nakuJehova, Nkulunkulu lakhetsa kumlandzela.

²¹ Ekugcineni, boRuthe naNawomi befika eBhetlehema, lidolobhana lelisendzaweni lengaba ngemakhilomitha lalishumi eningizimu yeJerusalema. Kubonakala shengatsi boNawomi nemndeni wakubo bebake batiwa kakhulu kulelidolobhana, ngobe bonkhe bantfu kulendzawo bebakhuluma ngekubuya kwakhe. Labasikati bakulendzawo bebambukisisa bese bayabutana batsi: “Utsi ngabe nguNawomi lo?” Kuyacaca kutsi kuhlala kwakhe kaMowabi besekumente washintja kakhulu; indlela labebukeka ngayo ebusweni, kanye nekuma kwemtimba wakhe bekubonisa kutsi sewuneminyaka leminyenti advonsa matima futsi aselusizini.​—Rut. 1:19.

²² Nawomi wacocela tihlobo kanye nabomakhelwane bakhe bakadzeni ngebuhlungu labebuva. Waze wabona kutsi ligama lakhe sale lishintjwa, angasabitwa ngekutsi nguNawomi, lokusho kutsi “Injabulo,” kodvwa sale kutsiwa nguMara, lokusho kutsi “Lusizi.” NjengaJobe, Nawomi abekholelwa kutsi bumatima labebhekana nabo bebubangelwa nguJehova Nkulunkulu.​—Rut. 1:20, 21; Jobe 2:10; 13:24-26.

23. Yini Ruthe lacala kucabanga ngayo, futsi nguliphi lilungiselelo uMtsetfo waMosi lobewulentele labo labeswele? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

²³ Njengobe labafelokati lababili sebatinta eBhetlehema, Ruthe wacala kucabanga kutsi yini labengayenta kute akhone kutinakekela yena kanye naNawomi. Weva kutsi loMtsetfo Jehova labewunikete bantfu bakhe ka-Israyeli bewufaka ekhatsi lilungiselelo lelutsandvo lalabo labeswele. Bebavunyelwa kutsi baye emasimini ngesikhatsi sekuvuna, bese bahamba ngemuva kwebavuni, bakhwimite loko lokusele, kanye nalokumile eminyeleni nasemakhoneni emasimu. *​—Lev. 19:9, 10; Dut. 24:19-21.

24, 25. Wenta njani Ruthe nakatitsela emasimini aBhowazi, futsi bekunjani kukhwimita kulamasimu?

 ²⁴ Bekusikhatsi sekuvuna ibhali, cishe nga-April ngekwekhalenda yalamuhla, ngako Ruthe waya emasimini ayobona kutsi ukhona yini longamvumela akhwimite emasimini akhe ngekuvumelana nalelilungiselelo lebelishiwo ngumtsetfo. Watitsela emasimini alenye indvodza leyayibitwa ngekutsi nguBhowazi, lebeyingumnikati wendzawo lonjingile, futsi isihlobo sa-Elimeleki, indvodza yaNawomi lebeseyifile. Nanome uMtsetfo wawumniketa lilungelo lekukhwimita, Ruthe akazange amane ahlomeke emasimini, kodvwa wacela imvume kulelinye lijaha lebeliyindvuna yalabavuni. Lelijaha lamvumela, wase uvele ukhwela etikwawo umsebenti.​—Rut. 1:22–2:3, 7.

²⁵ Asewumbuke ngemehlo engcondvo Ruthe alandzela ngemuva kwebavuni. Njengobe basika ibhali ngemasikela abo, Ruthe abegobondzela abutse loko labakuwisele phansi nome labakushiye ngemuva. Abehlanganisa tinhlanga atente tincumbi, bese uyatetfwala ayotibeka endzaweni labetatibhulela kuyo. Lomsebenti wawuhamba kancane, unesiye, futsi wawuya ngekuba matima njengobe lilanga liphakama. Nome kunjalo, Ruthe abechubeka asebenta, amane eme nje kuphela nakesula umjuluko ebusweni, nome ayokudla kudla lokumelula “endlini”​—lokungenteka bekuyindzawo lelungiselelwe kutsi labo labasebentako batfole khona umtfunti.

26, 27. Bhowazi abengumuntfu lonjani, futsi wamphatsa njani Ruthe?

²⁶ Ruthe abengacabangi futsi abengakalindzeli kutsi angahle abonwe ngumnikati wensimu​—kodvwa-ke wambona. Bhowazi wambona, wase sewubuta lendvuna kutsi ungubani. Indvodza lenguBhowazi leyayinekukholwa lokukhulu, yabingelela tisebenti tayo—​letinye tato lokungenteka kutsi betimane ticashwe kwangalelo langa kuphela nome titihambi​—yatsi: “Simakadze akabe nani.” Nato tavuma ngendlela lefanako. Lendvodza lekhulile leyayitsandza Jehova, yabonisa Ruthe lutsandvo lolunjengelwababe.​—Rut. 2:4-7.

 ²⁷ Bhowazi, labebita Ruthe ngekutsi ‘yindvodzakati yakhe,’ watsi kuye abohlale eta atokhwimita kulamasimu akhe futsi anamatsele kulamantfombatana akhe lavunako kuze lamajaha lasebentako angatomhlupha. Abeciniseka kutsi Ruthe uyakutfola kudla kwasemini. (Fundza Ruthe 2:8, 9, 14.) Ngetulu kwako konkhe, abehlale amncoma futsi amkhutsata. Abekwenta njani loko?

28, 29. (a) Abenelidvumela lelinjani Ruthe? (b) NjengaRuthe, ungaphephela njani kuJehova?

²⁸ Ngalesikhatsi Ruthe abuta Bhowazi kutsi yini nje yena asihambi labeyentile aze atfole lomusa longaka, Bhowazi wamphendvula ngelekutsi abevile ngako konkhe labekwentele uninatala, Nawomi. Kungenteka kutsi Nawomi abemdvumise kakhulu Ruthe kulabanye bafati baseBhetlehema, yase leyondzaba ihamba ize ifika nasetindlebeni taBhowazi. Bhowazi bekati nekutsi Ruthe abesacale kukhonta Jehova. Loko kwevakala nakatsi: “Shangatsi Simakadze angakunika umvuzo ngaloku lose ukwentile. Shangatsi Simakadze Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli, angakunika umvuzo lophelele, njengobe naku sewukhosele ngaphansi kwakhe nje.”​—Rut. 2:12.

²⁹ Kufanele kutsi lamavi amkhutsata kakhulu Ruthe. Abencume kukhosela ngaphansi kwaJehova Nkulunkulu, njengelizini likhosela ngaphansi kwenina. Wambonga kakhulu Bhowazi ngekukhuluma kwakhe emavi lamdvudvutako. Wachubeka asebenta kwaze kwahlwa.​—Rut. 2:13, 17.

30, 31. Singafundzani kuRuthe mayelana nendlela yekusebenta, kujabula ngebuhlobo betfu naJehova, kanye nelutsandvo lolucotfo?

³⁰ Kukholwa lokwaboniswa nguRuthe kusibonelo lesihle kitsi njengobe natsi sidvonsa kamatima kuletikhatsi talamuhla tekuwa kwemnotfo. Abekwemukela ngenjabulo konkhe loko labanye lebebamsita ngako, kodvwa abengahlali agadze kutsi labanye bamentele lokutsite ngobe angumfelokati. Nanobe abenta umsebenti lophansi, bekungenteki ative anemahloni ekusebenta kamatima sikhatsi lesidze kute anakekele loyo lamtsandzako. Wasemukela ngenjabulo waphindze wasisebentisa seluleko lesihlakaniphile sekutsi angasebenta njani kahle nalabanye futsi ahlale aphephile. Lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi akazange akhohlwe kutsi siphephelo sakhe lokungusonasona nguJehova Nkulunkulu, longuYise lovikelako.

³¹ Nangabe sibonisa lutsandvo lolucotfo njengobe kwenta Ruthe, siphindze silandzele sibonelo sakhe sekutfobeka, kukhutsala, kanye nekujabulela kwakhe lilungelo lekwati Jehova, natsi singaba nekukholwa lokusibonelo lesihle kulabanye. Jehova wabanakekela njani-ke boRuthe naNawomi? Sitawucoca ngaleyo ndzaba esehlukweni lesilandzelako.