2 ദിനവൃത്താന്തം 25

1 അമസ്യാവ് രാജാവാകുമ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ഇരുപത്തിയഞ്ചു വയസ്സായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം ഇരുപത്തിയൊൻപതു വർഷം ജെറുശലേമിൽ വാണു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അമ്മയുടെ പേര് യഹോവദ്ദാൻ എന്നായിരുന്നു; അവർ ജെറുശലേംകാരിയായിരുന്നു.

౧అమజ్యా పరిపాలించడం మొదలుపెట్టినప్పుడు 25 ఏళ్లవాడు. అతడు 29 ఏళ్ళు యెరూషలేములో పాలించాడు. అతని తల్లి యెరూషలేము నివాసి. ఆమె పేరు యెహోయద్దాను.

2 അദ്ദേഹം യഹോവയുടെ ദൃഷ്ടിയിൽ നീതിയായുള്ളതു ചെയ്തു; എന്നാൽ അതു പൂർണഹൃദയത്തോടെ ആയിരുന്നില്ല.

౨అతడు యెహోవా దృష్టికి యథార్ధంగా ప్రవర్తించాడు గాని పూర్ణహృదయంతో ఆయన్ని అనుసరించలేదు.

3 രാജ്യം തന്റെ അധീനതയിൽ ഉറച്ചപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ പിതാവായിരുന്ന രാജാവിനെ വധിച്ച ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്മാർക്കു വധശിക്ഷതന്നെ നൽകി.

౩రాజ్యం తనకు సుస్థిరం అయ్యాక అతడు రాజైన తన తండ్రిని చంపిన రాజసేవకులను చంపించాడు.

4 എന്നിരുന്നാലും “മക്കളുടെ തെറ്റിനു പിതാക്കന്മാരോ പിതാക്കന്മാരുടെ തെറ്റിനു മക്കളോ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കരുത്; ഓരോരുത്തരുടെയും പാപത്തിന് അവരവർതന്നെ മരണശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിക്കണം,” എന്ന് യഹോവ കൽപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നതായി മോശയുടെ ന്യായപ്രമാണഗ്രന്ഥത്തിൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നതനുസരിച്ച് അമസ്യാവ് അവരുടെ മക്കളെ കൊലചെയ്യിച്ചില്ല.

౪అయితే “తండ్రులు పిల్లల కోసం, పిల్లలు తండ్రులకోసం చావకూడదు, ప్రతి మనిషి తన పాపం కోసం తానే చావాలి” అని మోషే గ్రంథం అయిన ధర్మశాస్త్రంలో రాసి ఉన్న యెహోవా ఆజ్ఞ ప్రకారం అతడు వారి పిల్లలను చంపలేదు.

5 അമസ്യാവ് യെഹൂദാജനതയെ ഒരുമിച്ചു വിളിച്ചുകൂട്ടി; അവരെ യെഹൂദയുടെയും ബെന്യാമീന്റെയും പിതൃകുടുംബക്രമമനുസരിച്ച് സഹസ്രാധിപന്മാരുടെയും ശതാധിപന്മാരുടെയും കീഴിൽ നിയോഗിച്ചു. അതിനുശേഷം അദ്ദേഹം ഇരുപതു വയസ്സും അതിൽ കൂടുതലും പ്രായമുള്ളവരുടെ എണ്ണം തിട്ടപ്പെടുത്തി; യുദ്ധസേവനത്തിനു സന്നദ്ധരും കുന്തവും പരിചയും പ്രയോഗിക്കാൻ പ്രാപ്തരുമായി മൂന്നുലക്ഷം പടയാളികൾ ഉള്ളതായിക്കണ്ടു.

౫అమజ్యా యూదావారందరినీ సమకూర్చి యూదా దేశమంతటా బెన్యామీనీయుల దేశమంతటా వారి వారి పూర్వీకుల వంశాల ప్రకారం సహస్రాధిపతులనూ, శతాధిపతులనూ నియమించాడు. అతడు 20 ఏళ్ళు మొదలు అంతకన్నా ఎక్కువ వయసున్న వారిని లెక్కిస్తే, ఈటెను డాళ్లను పట్టుకుని యుద్ధానికి వెళ్ళగలిగిన యోధులు మూడు లక్షల మంది అయ్యారు.

6 നൂറു താലന്തു വെള്ളികൊടുത്ത് അദ്ദേഹം ഇസ്രായേലിൽനിന്ന് ഒരുലക്ഷം യോദ്ധാക്കളെ വാടകയ്ക്കും എടുത്തു.

౬అతడు ఇంకా లక్ష మందిని మూడు వేల నాలుగు వందల కిలోల వెండి ఇచ్చి జీతానికి కుదుర్చుకున్నాడు.

7 എന്നാൽ ഒരു ദൈവപുരുഷൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അടുത്തുവന്നു പറഞ്ഞു: “അല്ലയോ രാജാവേ, ഇസ്രായേലിൽനിന്നുള്ള ഈ പടയാളികൾ അങ്ങയോടുകൂടി യുദ്ധത്തിനു വരരുത്—കാരണം യഹോവ ഇസ്രായേല്യരോടുകൂടെ ഇല്ല. എഫ്രയീംജനതയിലെ യാതൊരുത്തന്റെകൂടെയും ഇല്ല.

౭దేవుని మనిషి ఒకడు అతని దగ్గరికి వచ్చి “రాజా, ఇశ్రాయేలు సైన్యాన్ని నీతో తీసుకు పోవద్దు, యెహోవా ఇశ్రాయేలువారైన ఎఫ్రాయిమీయుల్లో ఎవరికీ తోడుగా ఉండడు.

8 യുദ്ധത്തിൽ അങ്ങുതന്നെ ചെന്ന് ധീരമായി പോരാടിയാലും ദൈവം നിങ്ങളെ ശത്രുവിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ പരാജയപ്പെടുത്തും. കാരണം ദൈവം തുണയ്ക്കാനും തകർക്കാനും ശക്തിയുള്ളവനാണ്.”

౮ఆలా వెళ్లాలని నీకుంటే వెళ్ళు. యుద్ధం బలంగా చేసినా దేవుడు నీ శత్రువు ఎదుట నిన్ను పడగొడతాడు. సహాయం చేయడానికీ పడవేయడానికీ దేవుడు సమర్దుడే గదా” అని చెప్పాడు.

9 “എന്നാൽ ഈ പടയാളികൾക്കുവേണ്ടി ഞാൻ കൊടുത്ത നൂറു താലന്തു വെള്ളിയുടെ കാര്യമോ?” അമസ്യാവ് ദൈവപുരുഷനോട് ചോദിച്ചു. അതിന് ദൈവപുരുഷൻ: “യഹോവയ്ക്ക് അതും അതിലധികവും തരാൻ കഴിയും” എന്നുത്തരം പറഞ്ഞു.

౯అమజ్యా అతనితో “ఇశ్రాయేలువారి సైన్యానికి నేనిచ్చిన 3, 500 కిలోల వెండి సంగతి ఏం చేద్దాం” అని అడిగాడు. దానికతడు “దీనికంటే ఇంకా ఎక్కువ యెహోవా నీకు ఇవ్వగలడు” అని జవాబిచ్చాడు.

10 അതിനാൽ എഫ്രയീമിൽനിന്ന് തന്റെ അടുത്തേക്കുവന്ന ആ സൈന്യത്തെ അമസ്യാവു പിരിച്ചുവിട്ടു; അവരെ എഫ്രയീമിലേക്കു തിരിച്ചയച്ചു. യെഹൂദയ്ക്കെതിരേ അവരുടെ ക്രോധം ജ്വലിച്ചു. അവർ ഉഗ്രകോപത്തോടെ മടങ്ങിപ്പോയി.

౧౦అప్పుడు అమజ్యా ఎఫ్రాయిములోనుంచి తన దగ్గరికి వచ్చిన సైన్యాన్ని వేరుపరచి “మీ ఇళ్ళకు తిరిగి వెళ్ళండి” అని వారికి చెప్పాడు. అందుకు వారికి యూదావారి మీద తీవ్ర కోపం వచ్చింది. వారు మండిపడుతూ తమ ఇళ్ళకు తిరిగి వెళ్ళిపోయారు.

11 അതിനുശേഷം അമസ്യാവ് തന്റെ സൈന്യത്തെ അണിനിരത്തി അവരെ ഉപ്പുതാഴ്വരയിലേക്കു നയിച്ചു. അവിടെ അദ്ദേഹം സേയീർനിവാസികളിൽ പതിനായിരംപേരെ സംഹരിച്ചു.

౧౧అమజ్యా ధైర్యం తెచ్చుకుని తన ప్రజలతో బయలుదేరి, ఉప్పు లోయ స్థలానికి పోయి శేయీరువారిలో 10,000 మందిని హతమార్చాడు.

12 യെഹൂദാസൈന്യം മറ്റൊരു പതിനായിരംപേരെക്കൂടി ജീവനോടെ പിടികൂടി; അവരെ കടുംതൂക്കായ ഒരു പാറയുടെ മുകളിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടുപോയി, അവിടെനിന്ന് അവരെ താഴേക്ക് എറിഞ്ഞുകളഞ്ഞു; അവരുടെ ശരീരങ്ങൾ ഛിന്നഭിന്നമായിപ്പോയി.

౧౨ప్రాణాలతో ఉన్న మరొక 10,000 మందిని యూదావారు చెరపట్టుకుని, వారిని ఒక కొండ అంచుకు తీసుకుపోయి అక్కడనుంచి వారిని పడవేస్తే వారు ముక్కలైపోయారు.

13 ഈ സമയത്ത് ഈ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കാൻ അനുവദിക്കാതെ അമസ്യാവു തിരിച്ചയച്ച ഇസ്രായേൽ പടക്കൂട്ടം യെഹൂദാനഗരങ്ങളിൽ—ശമര്യമുതൽ ബേത്-ഹോരോൻവരെ കടന്നാക്രമിച്ചു. അവർ മൂവായിരം ആളുകളെ വധിക്കുകയും അനവധി കൊള്ളമുതൽ കൊണ്ടുപോകുകയും ചെയ്തു.

౧౩అయితే తనతో యుద్ధానికి రావద్దని అమజ్యా తిరిగి పంపివేసిన సైనికులు షోమ్రోను మొదలు బేత్‌హోరోను వరకూ ఉన్న యూదా పట్టణాల మీద పడి వారిలో 3,000 మందిని చంపి విస్తారమైన దోపిడీ సొమ్ము పట్టుకు పోయారు.

14 അമസ്യാവ് ഏദോമ്യരെ സംഹരിച്ചു മടങ്ങിവന്നപ്പോൾ സേയീർജനതയുടെ ദേവന്മാരെയും എടുത്തുകൊണ്ടുപോന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം അവയെ തന്റെ സ്വന്തം ദേവന്മാരായി പ്രതിഷ്ഠിച്ച് അവയുടെമുമ്പിൽ കുമ്പിടുകയും ഹോമബലികൾ അർപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

౧౪అమజ్యా ఎదోమీయులను ఓడించి తిరిగి వచ్చిన తరువాత అతడు శేయీరు ప్రజల దేవుళ్ళను తీసుకువచ్చి తనకు దేవుళ్ళుగా నిలిపి వాటికి నమస్కరించి ధూపం వేశాడు.

15 യഹോവയുടെ കോപം അമസ്യാവിനെതിരേ ജ്വലിച്ചു. യഹോവ ഒരു പ്രവാചകനെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അടുത്തേക്കയച്ചു. ആ പ്രവാചകൻ ചോദിച്ചു: “സ്വന്തം ജനത്തെ നിന്റെ കൈയിൽനിന്നു രക്ഷിക്കാൻ കഴിയാഞ്ഞവരാണല്ലോ ഈ ദൈവങ്ങൾ! ഈ ജനതയുടെ ദേവന്മാരെ നീയെന്തിന് ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു!”

౧౫అందువలన యెహోవా కోపం అమజ్యా మీద రగులుకుంది. ఆయన అతని దగ్గరికి ఒక ప్రవక్తను పంపాడు. అతడు “నీ చేతిలోనుంచి తమ ప్రజలను విడిపించే శక్తి లేని దేవుళ్ళ దగ్గర నీవెందుకు విచారణ చేస్తావు?” అని అమజ్యాతో అన్నాడు.

16 പ്രവാചകൻ സംസാരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെ, രാജാവ് അദ്ദേഹത്തോടു പറഞ്ഞു, “നിന്നെ രാജാവിന്റെ ഉപദേഷ്ടാവായി ഞങ്ങൾ നിയമിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ? നിർത്തുക. നീ വെട്ടുകൊണ്ടു ചാകുന്നതെന്തിന്?” അതിനാൽ ആ പ്രവാചകൻ നിർത്തി. പക്ഷേ, ഇത്രയുംകൂടി പറഞ്ഞു: “നീ ഇതു ചെയ്യുകയാലും എന്റെ ഉപദേശം ചെവിക്കൊള്ളാതിരിക്കയാലും ദൈവം നിന്നെ നശിപ്പിക്കാൻ തീരുമാനിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു എന്നു ഞാൻ അറിയുന്നു.”

౧౬అతడు అమజ్యాతో మాటలాడుతుంటే, రాజు అతనితో “మేము నిన్ను రాజుకు సలహాదారునిగా చేశామా? ఆగు. ప్రాణాల మీదికి ఎందుకు తెచ్చుకుంటావు?” అన్నాడు. ఆ ప్రవక్త ఆగి “దేవుడు నిన్ను నాశనం చేయడానికి నిర్ణయించాడు. ఎందుకంటే నీవు నా సలహా పాటించ లేదు” అన్నాడు.

17 അതിനുശേഷം യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ അമസ്യാവ് തന്റെ ഉപദേഷ്ടാക്കളുമായി കൂടിയാലോചിച്ചശേഷം ഇസ്രായേൽരാജാവും യേഹുവിന്റെ പൗത്രനും യഹോവാഹാസിന്റെ പുത്രനുമായ യഹോവാശിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ വെല്ലുവിളി അയച്ചു: “വരൂ, നമുക്കൊന്നു നേരിൽ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടാം.”

౧౭అప్పుడు యూదారాజు అమజ్యా తన సలహాదారులతో ఆలోచన చేసి “రండి, మనం యుద్ధంలో ఒకరికొకరం తలపడదాం” అని యెహూకు పుట్టిన యెహోయాహాజు కొడుకూ, ఇశ్రాయేలు రాజూ అయిన యెహోయాషుకు కబురు పంపాడు.

18 എന്നാൽ ഇസ്രായേൽരാജാവായ യഹോവാശ് യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ അമസ്യാവിന് ഇപ്രകാരം മറുപടികൊടുത്തു: “ലെബാനോനിലെ ഒരു മുൾച്ചെടി ലെബാനോനിലെതന്നെ ഒരു ദേവദാരുവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ‘നിന്റെ മകളെ എന്റെ മകനു ഭാര്യയായിത്തരിക’ എന്നു സന്ദേശം പറഞ്ഞയച്ചു. എന്നാൽ ലെബാനോനിലെ ഒരു കാട്ടുമൃഗം അതുവഴി വന്നു. അത് ആ മുൾച്ചെടിയെ ചവിട്ടിമെതിച്ചുകളഞ്ഞു.

౧౮కాగా ఇశ్రాయేలు రాజు యెహోయాషు యూదారాజు అమజ్యాకు ఇలా తిరుగు సందేశం పంపాడు. “‘నీ కూతుర్ని నా కొడుక్కి ఇచ్చి పెళ్లి చెయ్యి’ అని లెబానోనులో ఉన్న ముళ్ళ చెట్టు లెబానోనులో ఉన్న దేవదారు వృక్షానికి సందేశం పంపితే లెబానోనులో తిరిగే ఒక అడవి జంతువు ఆ ముళ్ళచెట్టును తొక్కివేసింది.

19 ഏദോമിനെ തോൽപ്പിച്ചെന്നു താങ്കൾ പറയുന്നുണ്ടാകാം; അതിനാൽ നീയിപ്പോൾ ഉന്നതനും നിഗളിയുമായിത്തീർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. എന്നാൽ അതുമായി വീട്ടിൽ അടങ്ങി താമസിച്ചുകൊള്ളുക. താങ്കളുടെയും യെഹൂദയുടെയും നാശത്തിനുവേണ്ടി എന്തിന് ഉപദ്രവം ക്ഷണിച്ചുവരുത്തുന്നു?”

౧౯‘నేను ఎదోమీయులను ఓడించాను’ అని నీవనుకుంటున్నావు. నీ హృదయం నీవు గర్వించి ప్రగల్భాలాడేలా చేస్తున్నది. ఇంటి దగ్గరే ఉండు. నీవు నా జోలికి వచ్చి కీడు తెచ్చుకోవడం ఎందుకు? నువ్వూ నీతో పాటు యూదావారూ ఓడిపోవడం ఎందుకు?”

20 എങ്കിലും അമസ്യാവ് അതു ചെവിക്കൊണ്ടില്ല. അദ്ദേഹം ഏദോമ്യദേവന്മാരെ ആശ്രയിക്കയാൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ യോവാശിന്റെകൈയിൽ ഏൽപ്പിക്കണമെന്നതു ദൈവഹിതമായിരുന്നു.

౨౦ప్రజలు ఎదోమీయుల దేవుళ్ళ దగ్గర విచారణ చేస్తున్నారు కాబట్టి వారి శత్రువుల చేతికి వారు చిక్కేలా దేవుని ప్రేరణ వలన అమజ్యా ఆ సందేశాన్ని అంగీకరించ లేదు.

21 അതിനാൽ ഇസ്രായേൽരാജാവായ യഹോവാശ് ആക്രമണം നടത്തി. യെഹൂദ്യയിലെ ബേത്-ശേമെശിൽവെച്ച് അദ്ദേഹവും യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ അമസ്യാവുംതമ്മിൽ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടി.

౨౧ఇశ్రాయేలు రాజు యెహోయాషు బయలుదేరాడు. యూదాకు చెందిన బేత్షెమెషులో అతడూ యూదా రాజు అమజ్యా ఒకరినొకరు ఎదుర్కొన్నారు.

22 ഇസ്രായേൽ യെഹൂദയെ തോൽപ്പിച്ചോടിച്ചു; ഓരോരുത്തരും താന്താങ്ങളുടെ ഭവനത്തിലേക്ക് ഓടിപ്പോയി.

౨౨యూదావారు ఇశ్రాయేలువారి ముందు నిలవలేక ఓడిపోయారు. ప్రతివాడూ తన గుడారానికి పారిపోయాడు.

23 ഇസ്രായേൽരാജാവായ യഹോവാശ് ബേത്-ശേമെശിൽവെച്ച്, യെഹൂദാരാജാവും യോവാശിന്റെ പുത്രനും അഹസ്യാവിന്റെ പൗത്രനുമായ അമസ്യാവിനെ പിടിച്ചു ബന്ധിച്ചു. പിന്നെ യഹോവാശ് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ജെറുശലേമിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടുവന്നു. തുടർന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ജെറുശലേമിന്റെ മതിൽ എഫ്രയീംകവാടംമുതൽ കോൺകവാടംവരെ ഏകദേശം നാനൂറുമുഴം നീളത്തിൽ ഇടിച്ചുനിരത്തി.

౨౩అప్పుడు ఇశ్రాయేలు రాజు యెహోయాషు యెహోయాహాజుకు పుట్టిన యోవాషు కొడుకూ, యూదారాజూ అయిన అమజ్యాను బేత్షెమెషులో పట్టుకుని యెరూషలేముకు తీసుకు వచ్చి, యెరూషలేము ప్రాకారాన్ని ఎఫ్రాయిము గుమ్మం మొదలు మూల గుమ్మం వరకూ 400 మూరల పొడుగున పడగొట్టాడు.

24 ഓബേദ്-ഏദോമിന്റെ സൂക്ഷിപ്പിൽ ദൈവാലയത്തിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന സ്വർണവും വെള്ളിയും മറ്റുപകരണങ്ങളും അദ്ദേഹം എടുത്തുകൊണ്ടുപോയി. അതോടൊപ്പം കൊട്ടാരഭണ്ഡാരവും ജാമ്യത്തടവുകാരെയും അദ്ദേഹം കൈയടക്കി. ഇവയെല്ലാമായി അദ്ദേഹം ശമര്യയിലേക്കു മടങ്ങി.

౨౪అతడు దేవుని మందిరంలో ఓబేదెదోము దగ్గర ఉన్న మొత్తం వెండి, బంగారం పాత్రలన్నీ రాజభవనంలో ఉన్న సొమ్మంతా తీసుకు షోమ్రోనుకు తిరిగి వెళ్లి పోయాడు.

25 ഇസ്രായേൽരാജാവായ യഹോവാഹാസിന്റെ മകൻ യഹോവാശിന്റെ മരണശേഷം പതിനഞ്ചു വർഷംകൂടി യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ യോവാശിന്റെ മകൻ അമസ്യാവു ജീവിച്ചിരുന്നു.

౨౫ఇశ్రాయేలు రాజూ యెహోయాహాజు కొడుకూ అయిన యెహోయాషు చనిపోయిన తరువాత యూదా రాజూ, యోవాషు కొడుకూ అయిన అమజ్యా 15 ఏళ్ళు బతికాడు.

26 അമസ്യാവിന്റെ ഭരണകാലത്തെ മറ്റു സംഭവങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചെല്ലാം ആദ്യന്തം യെഹൂദ്യയിലെയും ഇസ്രായേലിലെയും രാജാക്കന്മാരുടെ പുസ്തകങ്ങളിൽ രേഖപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടില്ലേ?

౨౬అమజ్యా గురించిన ఇతర విషయాలు యూదా ఇశ్రాయేలు రాజుల గ్రంథంలో రాసివున్నాయి.

27 അമസ്യാവ് യഹോവയെ പിൻതുടരുന്നതിൽ നിന്നും വിട്ടുമാറിയ ദിവസംമുതൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനെതിരേ ആളുകൾ ജെറുശലേമിൽ ഗൂഢാലോചനയുണ്ടാക്കിയിരുന്നു. അതുകൊണ്ട് അദ്ദേഹം ലാഖീശിലേക്ക് ഓടിപ്പോയി. എന്നാൽ അവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനുപിറകേ ലാഖീശിലേക്ക് ആളുകളെ അയച്ച് അവിടെവെച്ച് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കൊന്നുകളഞ്ഞു.

౨౭అమజ్యా యెహోవాను అనుసరించడం మానివేసిన తరువాత ప్రజలు యెరూషలేములో అతని మీద కుట్ర చేశారు. అతడు లాకీషుకు పారిపోయాడు.

28 അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മൃതദേഹം കുതിരപ്പുറത്തുകൊണ്ടുവന്ന് യെഹൂദാ നഗരത്തിൽ തന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാരോടുകൂടെ സംസ്കരിച്ചു.

౨౮అయితే వారు అతని వెనుక లాకీషుకు మనుష్యులను పంపి అతణ్ణి అక్కడ చంపి, గుర్రాల మీద అతని శవాన్ని ఎక్కించి తీసుకువచ్చి యూదా పట్టణంలో అతని పూర్వీకుల దగ్గర పాతిపెట్టారు.