1 രാജാക്കന്മാർ 19
1 ഏലിയാവു ചെയ്ത സകലകാര്യങ്ങളും അദ്ദേഹം ബാലിന്റെ പ്രവാചകന്മാരെയെല്ലാം വാളിനിരയാക്കിയതും മറ്റും ആഹാബ് ഈസബേലിനോടു വിവരിച്ചുപറഞ്ഞു.
౧ఏలీయా చేసిందంతా అతడు బయలు ప్రవక్తలందరినీ కత్తితో చంపించిన సంగతీ అహాబు యెజెబెలుకు చెప్పాడు.
2 അപ്പോൾ, ഈസബേൽ ഒരു ദൂതനെ അയച്ച് ഏലിയാവിനോടു പറഞ്ഞതു: “നാളെ ഈ സമയത്തിനുള്ളിൽ ഞാൻ നിന്റെ ജീവൻ ആ പ്രവാചകന്മാരിൽ ഒരുവന്റെ ജീവൻപോലെ ആക്കിത്തീർക്കുന്നില്ലെങ്കിൽ എന്റെ ദേവന്മാർ എന്നോട് ഇതും ഇതിനപ്പുറവും ചെയ്യട്ടെ.”
౨యెజెబెలు ఒక వార్తాహరునితో ఏలీయాకు ఈ కబురు పంపింది “రేపు ఈ పాటికి చనిపోయిన ఆ ప్రవక్తల ప్రాణం లాగా నేను నీ ప్రాణాన్ని చేయకపోతే దేవుళ్ళు దాని కంటే ఎక్కువ కీడు నా మీదికి తెస్తారు గాక.”
3 ഏലിയാവു ഭയപ്പെട്ട്, എഴുന്നേറ്റ് പ്രാണരക്ഷാർഥം പലായനംചെയ്തു. അദ്ദേഹം യെഹൂദ്യയിലെ ബേർ-ശേബയിലെത്തിയപ്പോൾ തന്റെ ഭൃത്യനെ അവിടെ താമസിപ്പിച്ചു.
౩ఏలీయా ఈ విషయం తెలుసుకుని, లేచి తన ప్రాణం కాపాడుకోడానికి, యూదాలోని బెయేర్షెబాకు వచ్చి, తన సేవకుణ్ణి అక్కడ ఉంచాడు.
4 ഏലിയാവ് തനിച്ചു മരുഭൂമിയിലേക്ക് ഒരു ദിവസത്തെ വഴി യാത്രചെയ്ത് ഒരു കുറ്റിച്ചെടിയുടെ തണലിൽ ഇരുന്നു. മരിച്ചെങ്കിൽ എന്നാഗ്രഹിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹം ഇപ്രകാരം പ്രാർഥിച്ചു: “യഹോവേ! ഇപ്പോൾ എനിക്കു മതിയായി; എന്റെ ജീവൻ എടുത്തുകൊള്ളണമേ! ഞാൻ എന്റെ പൂർവികരെക്കാൾ നല്ലവനല്ലല്ലോ!”
౪అతడు ఒక రోజంతా ఎడారిలోకి ప్రయాణించి ఒక రేగు చెట్టు కింద కూర్చున్నాడు. చచ్చిపోదామని ఆశించాడు. “యెహోవా, ఇంతవరకూ చాలు, చనిపోయిన నా పూర్వీకుల కంటే నేనేమంత గొప్పవాణ్ణి కాదు. నా ప్రాణం తీసుకో” అని ప్రార్థన చేశాడు.
5 പിന്നെ, അദ്ദേഹം ആ കുറ്റിച്ചെടിയുടെ തണലിൽക്കിടന്ന് ഉറങ്ങി. അപ്പോൾത്തന്നെ, യഹോവയുടെ ഒരു ദൂതൻ ഏലിയാവിനെ സ്പർശിച്ചിട്ട്, “എഴുന്നേറ്റു ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുക” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౫అతడు రేగు చెట్టు కింద పడుకుని నిద్రపోయాడు. ఉన్నట్టుండి ఒక దేవదూత వచ్చి అతన్ని తాకి “నీవు లేచి భోజనం చెయ్యి” అన్నాడు.
6 അദ്ദേഹം ചുറ്റും നോക്കി; അവിടെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ തലയ്ക്കൽ തീക്കനലിൽ ചുട്ടെടുത്ത അപ്പവും ഒരു ഭരണി വെള്ളവും ഇരിക്കുന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു! അദ്ദേഹം ഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചശേഷം വീണ്ടും കിടന്നുറങ്ങി.
౬ఏలీయా లేచి చూస్తే, అతని తల దగ్గర నిప్పుల మీద కాల్చిన రొట్టె, నీళ్ల సీసా కనిపించాయి. కాబట్టి అతడు భోజనం చేసి మళ్ళీ పడుకున్నాడు.
7 യഹോവയുടെ ദൂതൻ രണ്ടാംപ്രാവശ്യവും പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തട്ടിയുണർത്തി: “എഴുന്നേറ്റു ഭക്ഷിക്കുക; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ, ദീർഘദൂരയാത്ര നിനക്ക് അസഹനീയമായിരിക്കും” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౭యెహోవా దూత రెండవసారి మళ్ళీ వచ్చి అతన్ని లేపి “నీవు చాలా దూరం ప్రయాణం చెయ్యాలి, లేచి భోజనం చెయ్యి” అని చెప్పాడు.
8 അതിനാൽ, അദ്ദേഹം എഴുന്നേറ്റ് വീണ്ടും ഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചു. ആ ഭക്ഷണത്തിന്റെ ശക്തിയാൽ അദ്ദേഹം ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പർവതമായ ഹോരേബിലെത്തുന്നതുവരെ നാൽപ്പതുപകലും നാൽപ്പതുരാത്രിയും സഞ്ചരിച്ചു.
౮అతడు లేచి తిని, తాగి ఆ భోజనం బలంతో నలభై రాత్రింబగళ్లు ప్రయాణించి దేవుని పర్వతమనే పేరున్న హోరేబుకు వచ్చాడు.
9 അവിടെ, അദ്ദേഹം ഒരു ഗുഹയിൽ രാത്രി കഴിച്ചു. അവിടെവെച്ച് ഏലിയാവിന് യഹോവയുടെ അരുളപ്പാടുണ്ടായി: “ഏലിയാവേ! നീ ഇവിടെ എന്തുചെയ്യുന്നു?” എന്ന് യഹോവ ചോദിച്ചു.
౯అక్కడున్న ఒక గుహలో ఉండిపోయాడు. యెహోవా “ఏలీయా, ఇక్కడ నువ్వేం చేస్తున్నావ్” అని అతనిని అడిగాడు.
10 അതിന് ഏലിയാവ്: “സൈന്യങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവയ്ക്കുവേണ്ടി ഞാൻ വളരെയധികം തീക്ഷ്ണതയുള്ളവനായിരുന്നു. ഇസ്രായേൽമക്കൾ അവിടത്തെ ഉടമ്പടി തിരസ്കരിച്ചു; അവിടത്തെ യാഗപീഠങ്ങളെ ഇടിച്ചുനശിപ്പിച്ചു; അവിടത്തെ പ്രവാചകന്മാരെ വാളിനിരയാക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു; ഇപ്പോൾ, ഞാൻ; ഞാൻമാത്രം ശേഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; അവർ എനിക്കും ജീവഹാനി വരുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നു” എന്നു മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౦అతడు “ఇశ్రాయేలు ప్రజలు నీ నిబంధనను వదిలేసి నీ బలిపీఠాలను పడగొట్టి నీ ప్రవక్తలను కత్తితో చంపేశారు. దూతల సైన్యాల నాయకుడు యెహోవా కోసం మహా రోషంతో నేను ఒకణ్ణి మాత్రమే మిగిలాను. వారు నా ప్రాణం కూడా తీయడానికి చూస్తున్నారు” అని జవాబిచ్చాడు.
11 “നീ പുറത്തുവന്നു പർവതത്തിൽ എന്റെ സന്നിധിയിൽ നിൽക്കുക” എന്ന് യഹോവ ഏലിയാവിനോടു കൽപ്പിച്ചു. അപ്പോൾ, ഇതാ, യഹോവ കടന്നുപോകുന്നു; ഒരു വലിയ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റു പർവതങ്ങളെ പിളർന്നു പാറകളെ ചിതറിച്ചുകളഞ്ഞു. എന്നാൽ, കൊടുങ്കാറ്റിൽ യഹോവ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. അതിനുശേഷം ഒരു ഭൂകമ്പമുണ്ടായി. പക്ഷേ, ഭൂകമ്പത്തിലും യഹോവ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല.
౧౧యెహోవా అతనితో “నీవు వెళ్లి పర్వతం మీద నా ఎదుట నిలబడు” అన్నాడు. అప్పుడు యెహోవా అటుగా వెళ్ళగానే ప్రచండమైన గాలి లేచింది. పర్వతాలు బద్దలై బండరాళ్ళు ముక్కలైపోయాయి గాని యెహోవా ఆ గాలిలో లేడు. గాలి వెళ్లిపోయిన తరువాత భూకంపం వచ్చింది గాని ఆ భూకంపంలో యెహోవా లేడు.
12 ഭൂകമ്പത്തിനുശേഷം ഒരു അഗ്നിയുണ്ടായി. അഗ്നിയിലും യഹോവ ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു. അഗ്നിയുടെ പ്രത്യക്ഷതയ്ക്കുശേഷം ശാന്തമായ ഒരു മൃദുസ്വരം കേട്ടു.
౧౨ఆ భూకంపం వెళ్ళిపోయిన తరువాత అగ్ని జ్వాలలు కన్పించాయి గాని ఆ అగ్నిలో యెహోవా లేడు. అగ్ని ఆగిపోగానే చాలా నెమ్మదిగా మాట్లాడే ఒక స్వరం వినిపించింది.
13 അപ്പോൾ, ഏലിയാവ് തന്റെ മേലങ്കിയെടുത്തു മുഖം മറച്ചു; വെളിയിൽ ഗുഹാകവാടത്തിൽ വന്നുനിന്നു. അപ്പോൾ, “ഏലിയാവേ, നീ ഇവിടെ എന്തുചെയ്യുന്നു” എന്നു ചോദിക്കുന്ന ഒരു ശബ്ദം അദ്ദേഹം കേട്ടു.
౧౩ఏలీయా ఆ స్వరం విని, తన దుప్పటితో ముఖం కప్పుకుని బయలుదేరి గుహ ఎదుట నిలబడ్డాడు. అప్పుడు “ఏలీయా, ఇక్కడ నువ్వేం చేస్తున్నావ్?” అనే మాట వినిపించింది.
14 അതിന് ഏലിയാവ്: “സൈന്യങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവയ്ക്കുവേണ്ടി ഞാൻ വളരെയധികം തീക്ഷ്ണതയുള്ളവനായിരുന്നു. ഇസ്രായേൽമക്കൾ അവിടത്തെ ഉടമ്പടി തിരസ്കരിച്ചു; അവിടത്തെ യാഗപീഠങ്ങളെ ഇടിച്ചുനശിപ്പിച്ചു; അവിടത്തെ പ്രവാചകന്മാരെ വാളിനിരയാക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു; ഇപ്പോൾ, ഞാൻ, ഞാൻമാത്രം ശേഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; അവർ എനിക്കും ജീവഹാനി വരുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നു” എന്നു മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౪ఏలీయా “ఇశ్రాయేలు ప్రజలు నీ నిబంధనను వదిలేసి నీ బలిపీఠాలను పడగొట్టి నీ ప్రవక్తలను కత్తితో చంపేశారు. దూతల సైన్యాల నాయకుడు, యెహోవా కోసం మహా రోషంతో నేను ఒకణ్ణి మాత్రమే మిగిలితే, వారు నా ప్రాణం కూడా తీయడానికి చూస్తున్నారు” అని జవాబిచ్చాడు.
15 യഹോവ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു: “നീ വന്നവഴിയേ മടങ്ങിപ്പോകുക; അവിടെനിന്നും ദമസ്കോസിലെ മരുഭൂമിയിലേക്കു യാത്രചെയ്യുക; നീ അവിടെയെത്തുമ്പോൾ ഹസായേലിനെ അരാമിനു രാജാവായി അഭിഷേകംചെയ്യുക.
౧౫అప్పుడు యెహోవా అతనితో ఇలా చెప్పాడు. “ఎడారి గుండా నీవు వచ్చిన దారిలో దమస్కు వెళ్ళు. అక్కడ సిరియా దేశం మీద హజాయేలుకు పట్టాభిషేకం చెయ్యి.
16 ഇസ്രായേലിനു രാജാവായി നിംശിയുടെ മകനായ യേഹുവിനെയും അഭിഷേകംചെയ്യുക; ആബേൽ-മെഹോലയിലെ ശാഫാത്തിന്റെ മകൻ എലീശയെ നിനക്കുശേഷം പ്രവാചകനായി അഭിഷേകംചെയ്യുക.
౧౬ఇశ్రాయేలు వారి మీద నింషీ కొడుకు యెహూకు పట్టాభిషేకం చెయ్యి. నీకు బదులు ప్రవక్తగా ఉండడానికి అబేల్మెహోలా వాడు షాపాతు కొడుకు ఎలీషాకు అభిషేకం చెయ్యి.
17 ഹസായേലിന്റെ വാളിനിരയാകാതെ രക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നവരെ യേഹു വധിക്കും. യേഹുവിന്റെ വാളിനെ ഒഴിഞ്ഞുപോകുന്നവരെ എലീശാ വധിക്കും.
౧౭హజాయేలు కత్తిని తప్పించుకొనే వారిని యెహూ చంపేస్తాడు. యెహూ కత్తిని తప్పించుకొనే వారిని ఎలీషా చంపేస్తాడు.
18 എന്നാൽ, ബാലിന്റെമുമ്പിൽ മടങ്ങാത്ത മുഴങ്കാലും അവനെ ചുംബനംചെയ്യാത്ത അധരങ്ങളുമുള്ള ഏഴായിരംപേരെ ഞാൻ ഇസ്രായേലിൽ ശേഷിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.”
౧౮అయినా ఇశ్రాయేలు ప్రజల్లో బయలుకు మొక్కకుండా, వాడి విగ్రహాన్ని ముద్దు పెట్టుకోకుండా ఇంకా 7,000 మంది నాకు మిగిలి ఉన్నారు.”
19 അങ്ങനെ, ഏലിയാവ് അവിടെനിന്നു യാത്രയായി; അദ്ദേഹം ശാഫാത്തിന്റെ മകനായ എലീശയെ കണ്ടെത്തി. പന്ത്രണ്ട് ജോടി കാളകളെ പൂട്ടി നിലം ഉഴുന്നവരോടൊപ്പം എലീശയും ഉഴുതുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. പന്ത്രണ്ടാമത്തെ ജോടിയെ തെളിച്ചിരുന്നത് അദ്ദേഹംതന്നെയായിരുന്നു. ഏലിയാവ് അടുത്തേക്കുചെന്ന് തന്റെ അങ്കി എലീശയുടെമേൽ ഇട്ടു.
౧౯ఏలీయా అక్కడ నుండి వెళ్లిన తరువాత అతనికి షాపాతు కొడుకు ఎలీషా కనిపించాడు. అతడు తన దగ్గరున్న పన్నెండు జతల ఎడ్లతో దుక్కి దున్నిస్తూ పన్నెండవ కాడి తానే తోలుతున్నాడు. ఏలీయా అతని దగ్గరికి వెళ్లి తన పైబట్టను అతని మీద వేశాడు.
20 എലീശാ ഉടൻതന്നെ തന്റെ കാളകളെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് ഏലിയാവിന്റെ പിന്നാലെ ഓടിച്ചെന്നു. “ഞാൻ മാതാപിതാക്കളെ ചുംബിച്ചു യാത്ര പറയട്ടെ? പിന്നെ, ഞാൻ അങ്ങയെ അനുഗമിക്കാം,” എന്ന് എലീശാ പറഞ്ഞു. “പോയിവരിക; എന്നാൽ, ഞാൻ നിനക്ക് എന്തു ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന കാര്യം ഓർക്കുക,” എന്ന് ഏലിയാവ് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.
౨౦అతడు ఎడ్లను విడిచిపెట్టి ఏలీయా వెంట పరిగెత్తి “నేను వెళ్లి నా తలిదండ్రులను ముద్దు పెట్టుకుని తిరిగి వచ్చి నిన్ను వెంబడిస్తాను” అన్నాడు. ఏలీయా “వెళ్లి రా. నేను నీకేం చేశానో గుర్తు పెట్టుకో” అన్నాడు.
21 അങ്ങനെ, എലീശാ ഏലിയാവിനെ വിട്ട് തന്റെ കാളകളുടെ അടുക്കലെത്തി അതിന്റെ നുകം അഴിച്ചുമാറ്റി; അദ്ദേഹം ആ കാളകളെ അറത്ത്, ഉഴവിനുള്ള തടിയുപകരണങ്ങൾകൊണ്ട് മാംസം പാകംചെയ്ത് ജനത്തിനു കൊടുത്തു; അവർ ഭക്ഷിച്ചു. അതിനുശേഷം, എലീശാ ഏലിയാവിന്റെ ശുശ്രൂഷകനായി അദ്ദേഹം അനുഗമിച്ചു.
౨౧ఎలీషా అతన్ని విడిచి వెళ్లి, కాడి ఎడ్లను వధించి వాటి మాంసాన్ని కాడి మానులతో వంట చేసి ప్రజలకు వడ్డించాడు. వారు భోజనం చేసిన తరువాత అతడు లేచి ఏలీయా వెంట వెళ్లి అతనికి సేవకుడయ్యాడు.
