1 ശമൂവേൽ 4

1 ശമുവേലിന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ സകല ഇസ്രായേൽദേശത്തും പ്രചരിച്ചു. അങ്ങനെയിരിക്കെ, ഇസ്രായേല്യർ ഫെലിസ്ത്യരുമായി യുദ്ധത്തിനു പുറപ്പെട്ടു. ഇസ്രായേല്യരുടെ സൈന്യം ഏബെൻ-ഏസെരിലും ഫെലിസ്ത്യസൈന്യം അഫേക്കിലും പാളയമിറങ്ങി.

౧ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు ఫిలిష్తీయులతో యుద్ధం చేయడానికి సిద్ధపడి ఎబెనెజరులో సమావేశమయ్యారు. ఫిలిష్తీయులు ఆఫెకులో ఉన్నారు.

2 ഇസ്രായേലിനെ നേരിടാൻ ഫെലിസ്ത്യർ തങ്ങളുടെ സൈന്യത്തെ അണിനിരത്തി. യുദ്ധം മുറുകി; ഇസ്രായേൽ ഫെലിസ്ത്യരോടു തോറ്റു. അവർ പടക്കളത്തിൽവെച്ചുതന്നെ ഏകദേശം നാലായിരം ഇസ്രായേല്യയോദ്ധാക്കളെ വധിച്ചു.

౨ఫిలిష్తీయులు బారులు తీరి నిలబడి ఇశ్రాయేలీయులపై యుద్ధం చేయగా ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు ఫిలిష్తీయుల చేతిలో ఓడిపోయి యుద్ధభూమిలోనే దాదాపు నాలుగు వేలమంది మరణించారు.

3 പടയാളികൾ പാളയത്തിലേക്കു മടങ്ങിവന്നപ്പോൾ ഇസ്രായേല്യ ഗോത്രത്തലവന്മാർ ചോദിച്ചു: “യഹോവ ഇന്ന് ഫെലിസ്ത്യരുടെമുമ്പിൽ നമുക്കു പരാജയം വരുത്തിയത് എന്തുകൊണ്ട്? നമുക്ക് ശീലോവിൽനിന്ന് യഹോവയുടെ ഉടമ്പടിയുടെ പേടകം കൊണ്ടുവരാം; അതു നമ്മുടെ മധ്യേ പാളയത്തിലുള്ളപ്പോൾ അവിടന്ന് നമ്മെ ശത്രുക്കളുടെ കൈയിൽനിന്നു രക്ഷിക്കും.”

౩ప్రజలు ఊరికి తిరిగి వచ్చాక ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల పెద్దలు “యెహోవా ఈ రోజు ఎందుకు మనలను ఫిలిష్తీయుల చేతిలో ఓడిపోయేలా చేశాడు? షిలోహులో ఉన్న యెహోవా నిబంధన మందసాన్ని తీసుకొచ్చి మన మధ్యనే ఉంచుకుందాము. అది మన మధ్య ఉంటే మనలను శత్రువుల చేతిలో నుండి కాపాడుతుంది” అన్నారు.

4 അങ്ങനെ ജനം ശീലോവിലേക്ക് പടയാളികളെ അയച്ചു; കെരൂബുകളുടെ മധ്യേ അധിവസിക്കുന്ന സൈന്യങ്ങളുടെ യഹോവയുടെ ഉടമ്പടിയുടെ പേടകം അവർ കൊണ്ടുവന്നു. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ഉടമ്പടിയുടെ പേടകത്തോടൊപ്പം ഏലിയുടെ രണ്ടു പുത്രന്മാരായ ഹൊഫ്നിയും ഫീനെഹാസും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

౪కాబట్టి పెద్దలు కొందరిని షిలోహుకు పంపించి అక్కడనుండి కెరూబుల మధ్య ఆసీనుడై ఉన్న సైన్యాలకు అధిపతి యెహోవా నిబంధన మందసాన్ని తెప్పించారు. ఏలీ ఇద్దరు కుమారులు హొఫ్నీ, ఫీనెహాసు కూడా అక్కడే దేవుని నిబంధన మందసం దగ్గర ఉన్నారు.

5 യഹോവയുടെ ഉടമ്പടിയുടെ പേടകം പാളയത്തിലെത്തിയപ്പോൾ ഇസ്രായേല്യരെല്ലാം ഭൂമി കുലുങ്ങുമാറ് ഉച്ചത്തിൽ ആർത്തുവിളിച്ചു.

౫యెహోవా నిబంధన మందసాన్ని ప్రజల మధ్యకు తెచ్చినప్పుడు ఇశ్రాయేలు ప్రజలంతా భూమి దద్దరిల్లి పోయేలా కేకలు వేశారు.

6 ഈ ആർപ്പുവിളിയുടെ ഘോഷം കേട്ടിട്ട്, “എബ്രായരുടെ പാളയത്തിൽ ഈ ആരവമെന്ത്?” എന്നു ഫെലിസ്ത്യർ അന്വേഷിച്ചു. യഹോവയുടെ പേടകം ഇസ്രായേല്യരുടെ പാളയത്തിലെത്തി എന്നറിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ

౬ఫిలిష్తీయులు ఆ కేకలు విని, హెబ్రీయుల గుంపులో ఈ గొప్ప కేకలు ఏమిటో అని ఆరా తీసి, యెహోవా నిబంధన మందసాన్ని శిబిరంలోకి తెచ్చారని తెలుసుకున్నారు.

7 ഫെലിസ്ത്യർ ഭയന്നുവിറച്ചു. “ഒരു ദേവൻ പാളയത്തിലെത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു,” അവർ പറഞ്ഞു. “നാം മഹാകഷ്ടത്തിലായിരിക്കുന്നു. മുമ്പൊരിക്കലും ഇതുപോലെ സംഭവിച്ചിട്ടില്ല.

౭వారు భయపడి, దేవుడు శిబిరంలోకి వచ్చాడనుకుని “అయ్యో, ఇక మనకి మూడింది. ఇలాంటిది ఇంతకుముందు ఎప్పుడూ జరగలేదు,

8 നമുക്ക് അയ്യോ കഷ്ടം! ഈ ശക്തിയുള്ള ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കൈയിൽനിന്നു നമ്മെ ആർ വിടുവിക്കും? മരുഭൂമിയിൽവെച്ച് സകലവിധ മഹാമാരികളാലും ഈജിപ്റ്റുകാരെ തകർത്ത ദൈവം ഇതുതന്നെ.

౮అయ్యో, మహాశూరుడైన ఈ దేవుడి చేతిలోనుండి మనలను ఎవరు విడిపిస్తారు? అరణ్యంలో రకరకాల తెగుళ్ళు రప్పించి ఐగుప్తు వారిని సంహరించిన దేవుడు ఈయనే గదా.

9 ഫെലിസ്ത്യരേ, ധീരരായിരിക്കുക! പൗരുഷം കാണിക്കുക. അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അവർ നിങ്ങൾക്ക് അടിമകളായിരുന്നതുപോലെ, നിങ്ങൾ എബ്രായർക്ക് അടിമകളായിത്തീരും. അതിനാൽ പൗരുഷം കാണിച്ചു പൊരുതുക!”

౯ఫిలిష్తీయులారా, వారు మన ముందు ఓడిపోయి దాసులు అయినట్టు మనం ఈ హెబ్రీయులకి దాసులు కాకూడదు. మనమంతా ధైర్యంగా నిలబడి బలం తెచ్చుకుని యుద్ధం చేద్దాం” అని చెప్పుకున్నారు.

10 അങ്ങനെ ഫെലിസ്ത്യർ പൊരുതി; ഇസ്രായേല്യർ പരാജിതരായി ഓരോരുത്തനും അവരവരുടെ കൂടാരത്തിലേക്കു പലായനംചെയ്തു. അന്നു നടന്ന കൂട്ടക്കുരുതി ഭയാനകമായിരുന്നു. ഇസ്രായേല്യർക്ക് തങ്ങളുടെ കാലാൾപ്പടയിൽ മുപ്പതിനായിരംപേർ നഷ്ടമായി.

౧౦ఫిలిష్తీయులు యుద్ధం చేసినప్పుడు ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు ఓడిపోయి అందరూ పారిపోయి తమ డేరాలకు తిరిగి వచ్చారు. అప్పుడు భయంకరమైన వధ జరిగింది. ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల్లో 30 వేలమంది సైనికులు చనిపోయారు.

11 ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ഉടമ്പടിയുടെ പേടകം ഫെലിസ്ത്യർ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തു. ഏലിയുടെ രണ്ടു മക്കൾ, ഹൊഫ്നിയും ഫീനെഹാസും, വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടു.

౧౧శత్రువులు దేవుని మందసాన్ని స్వాధీనం చేసుకున్నారు. ఇంకా ఏలీ కొడుకులు హొఫ్నీ, ఫీనెహాసు ఇద్దరినీ చంపేశారు.

12 അന്നുതന്നെ ബെന്യാമീൻഗോത്രജനായ ഒരാൾ പടക്കളത്തിൽനിന്നു തന്റെ വസ്ത്രം കീറിയും തലയിൽ പൂഴി വാരിയിട്ടുംകൊണ്ട്, ശീലോവിലേക്ക് ഓടിയെത്തി.

౧౨ఆ రోజు బెన్యామీను గోత్రానికి చెందిన ఒకడు యుద్ధభూమిలో నుండి పరుగెత్తుకొంటూ, చినిగిన బట్టలతో, తలంతా దుమ్ము కొట్టుకుపోయి షిలోహుకు వచ్చాడు.

13 അയാൾ വന്നെത്തുമ്പോൾ ഏലി തന്റെ ഇരിപ്പിടത്തിൽ വഴിയോരത്ത് വളരെ ആകാംക്ഷയോടെ കാത്തിരിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. കാരണം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഹൃദയം ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പേടകത്തിന്റെ കാര്യമോർത്ത് വ്യാകുലപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. ആ മനുഷ്യൻ നഗരത്തിലെത്തി സംഭവിച്ച കാര്യങ്ങൾ അറിയിച്ചതോടെ നഗരവാസികൾ ഒന്നടങ്കം മുറവിളിയിട്ടു കരഞ്ഞു.

౧౩అతడు వచ్చినప్పుడు ఏలీ దారి పక్కన కూర్చుని ఎదురు చూస్తున్నాడు. ఎందుకంటే దేవుని మందసం విషయం అతనికి గుండె బద్దలౌతూ ఉంది. ఆ వ్యక్తి నగరంలోకి సమాచారం తెచ్చినప్పుడు అంతా కేకలు వేశారు.

14 ഏലി ആ നിലവിളി കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, “ഈ ആരവത്തിന്റെ അർഥമെന്താണ്?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു. ആ മനുഷ്യൻ അതിവേഗം ഏലിയുടെ സമീപത്തെത്തി.

౧౪ఏలీ ఆ కేకలు విని “ఈ కేకల శబ్దం ఏమిటి?” అని అడిగాడు. ఆ వ్యక్తి తొందరగా వచ్చి ఏలీతో జరిగిన సంగతి చెప్పాడు.

15 അദ്ദേഹം തൊണ്ണൂറ്റിയെട്ടു വയസ്സുള്ളവനും ഒന്നും കാണാൻ കഴിയാത്തവിധം കാഴ്ച മങ്ങിയവനുമായിരുന്നു.

౧౫అప్పుడు ఏలీ వయసు తొంభై ఎనిమిదేళ్లు. అతనికి చూపు మందగించి కళ్ళు కనిపించడం లేదు.

16 അയാൾ ഏലിയോട്, “ഞാൻ യുദ്ധമുന്നണിയിൽനിന്ന് വരികയാണ്. ഇന്നാണ് ഞാൻ അവിടെനിന്നു രക്ഷപ്പെട്ടോടിയത്” എന്നറിയിച്ചു. “എന്റെ മകനേ, എന്താണ് സംഭവിച്ചത്?” ഏലി ചോദിച്ചു.

౧౬ఆ వ్యక్తి “యుద్ధంలో నుండి వచ్చినవాణ్ణి నేనే, ఈ రోజు యుద్ధంలో నుండి పారిపోయి వచ్చాను” అని ఏలీతో చెప్పాడు. ఏలీ “నాయనా, అక్కడ ఏమి జరిగింది?” అని అడిగాడు.

17 വാർത്തയുമായി ഓടിയെത്തിയ മനുഷ്യൻ, “ഇസ്രായേൽ ഫെലിസ്ത്യരുടെമുമ്പിൽനിന്നു തോറ്റോടി. നമ്മുടെ സൈന്യത്തിന് കനത്ത നഷ്ടം ഏൽക്കേണ്ടിവന്നു. അങ്ങയുടെ പുത്രന്മാരായ ഹൊഫ്നിയും ഫീനെഹാസും കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പേടകവും ശത്രുക്കൾ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തു” എന്നറിയിച്ചു.

౧౭అందుకు అతడు “ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు ఫిలిష్తీయుల ముందు నిలబడలేక పారిపోయారు. జనంలో చాలామంది చనిపోయారు. హొఫ్నీ, ఫీనెహాసు అనే నీ ఇద్దరు కొడుకులూ చనిపోయారు. ఫిలిష్తీయులు దేవుని మందసాన్ని పట్టుకున్నారు” అని చెప్పాడు.

18 ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പേടകത്തിന്റെ കാര്യം ആ മനുഷ്യൻ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾത്തന്നെ ഏലി തന്റെ ഇരിപ്പിടത്തിൽനിന്നും പിറകോട്ടു മറിഞ്ഞ് കവാടത്തിനരികെ വീണ് കഴുത്തൊടിഞ്ഞു മരിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹം വൃദ്ധനായിരുന്നു; വളരെയധികം വണ്ണവും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്. ഏലി നാൽപ്പതു വർഷക്കാലം ഇസ്രായേലിനെ ന്യായപാലനംചെയ്തിരുന്നു.

౧౮దేవుని మందసం విషయం అతడు చెప్పగానే ఏలీ గుమ్మం దగ్గర ఉన్న ఆసనం మీద నుండి వెనుకకు పడి మెడ విరిగి చనిపోయాడు. ఎందుకంటే అతడు ముసలివాడు, స్థూల కాయుడు. అతడు నలభై ఏళ్లు ఇశ్రాయేలు ప్రజలకు న్యాయాధికారిగా ఉన్నాడు.

19 അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മരുമകളായ ഫീനെഹാസിന്റെ ഭാര്യ ഗർഭിണിയും പ്രസവസമയം അടുത്തിരുന്നവളും ആയിരുന്നു. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പേടകം ശത്രുക്കൾ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തെന്നും തന്റെ അമ്മായിയപ്പനും ഭർത്താവും മരിച്ചു എന്നുമുള്ള വാർത്ത കേട്ടപ്പോൾ അവൾക്ക് പ്രസവവേദനയുണ്ടായി, ഒരു പൈതലിനു ജന്മംനൽകി. എന്നാൽ ആ കഠിനവേദന അവളെ മരണത്തിന് കീഴ്പ്പെടുത്തി.

౧౯నెలలు నిండి ప్రసవించడానికి సిద్ధంగా ఉన్న ఏలీ కోడలు ఫీనెహాసు భార్య శత్రువులు దేవుని మందసాన్ని పట్టుకున్నారనీ, తన మామ, భర్త చనిపోయారనీ విని, నొప్పులు ఎక్కువై మోకాళ్ల మీద కూలబడి అక్కడే ప్రసవించింది.

20 അവൾ അന്ത്യശ്വാസം വലിക്കുമ്പോൾ അവൾക്ക് പ്രസവശുശ്രൂഷ നൽകിയിരുന്ന സ്ത്രീ പറഞ്ഞു: “നിരാശപ്പെടേണ്ടാ; നീ ഒരു മകനെ പ്രസവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു!” എന്നാൽ അവൾ ഉത്തരമൊന്നും പറഞ്ഞില്ല; ആ വാക്കുകൾ ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചതുമില്ല.

౨౦ఆమె చనిపోతుండగా అక్కడ నిలబడిన స్త్రీలు ఆమెతో “భయపడకు, నీకు కొడుకు పుట్టాడు” అని చెప్పారు. ఆమె ఎలాంటి మాటా చెప్పలేదు. ఏమీ పట్టించుకోలేదు.

21 “മഹത്ത്വം ഇസ്രായേലിൽനിന്നു പൊയ്പ്പോയിരിക്കുന്നു,” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ട് അവൾ ആ പൈതലിന് ഈഖാബോദ് എന്നു പേരിട്ടു. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പേടകം ശത്രുക്കൾ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തതിനാലും അവളുടെ അമ്മായിയപ്പനും ഭർത്താവും മരിച്ചതിനാലും ആണ് അവൾ ഈ വിധം പറഞ്ഞത്.

౨౧ఆమె దేవుని మందసాన్ని పట్టుకున్నారనే విషయం, తన మామ, భర్త చనిపోయారన్న విషయం తెలుసుకుని “ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల్లో నుండి ప్రభావం వెళ్ళిపోయింది” అని చెప్పి, తన బిడ్డకు ఈకాబోదు అనే పేరు పెట్టింది.

22 അവൾ വീണ്ടും, “ദൈവത്തിന്റെ പേടകം ശത്രുക്കൾ പിടിച്ചെടുത്തതിനാൽ മഹത്ത്വം ഇസ്രായേലിൽനിന്ന് പൊയ്പ്പോയിരിക്കുന്നു” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.

౨౨“శత్రువులు దేవుని మందసాన్ని పట్టుకోవడం వలన ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల్లో నుండి ప్రభావం వెళ్ళిపోయింది” అని ఆమె అంది.