2 ദിനവൃത്താന്തം 26

1 അതിനുശേഷം യെഹൂദാജനമെല്ലാം ചേർന്ന് പതിനാറുവയസ്സുള്ള ഉസ്സീയാവിനെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പിതാവിന്റെ പിതാവായ അമസ്യാവിന്റെ സ്ഥാനത്തു രാജാവായി അവരോധിച്ചു.

౧అప్పుడు యూదా ప్రజలంతా 16 ఏళ్ల వాడైన ఉజ్జియాను అతని తండ్రి అమజ్యాకు బదులు రాజుగా నియమించారు.

2 അമസ്യാവ് നിദ്രപ്രാപിച്ച് തന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാരോട് ചേർന്നശേഷം ഏലാത്ത് പുതുക്കിപ്പണിതതും അതിനെ യെഹൂദയ്ക്കായി വീണ്ടെടുത്തതും ഇദ്ദേഹമാണ്.

౨ఎలోతు పట్టణాన్ని కట్టించి, అది యూదా వారికి తిరిగి వచ్చేలా చేసింది ఇతడే. ఆ తరువాత రాజు తన పూర్వీకులతో పాటు కన్ను మూశాడు.

3 ഉസ്സീയാവ് രാജാവാകുമ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു പതിനാറുവയസ്സായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം ജെറുശലേമിൽ അൻപത്തിരണ്ടു വർഷം വാണു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അമ്മയ്ക്ക് യെഖൊല്യാ എന്നു പേരായിരുന്നു; അവൾ ജെറുശലേംകാരിയായിരുന്നു.

౩ఉజ్జియా పరిపాలించడం మొదలు పెట్టినప్పుడు 16 ఏళ్ల వాడు. అతడు యెరూషలేములో 52 ఏళ్ళు పాలించాడు. అతని తల్లి యెరూషలేము నివాసి. ఆమె పేరు యెకొల్యా.

4 തന്റെ പിതാവായ അമസ്യാവു ചെയ്തതുപോലെ അദ്ദേഹവും യഹോവയുടെ ദൃഷ്ടിയിൽ നീതിയായതു പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു.

౪అతడు తన తండ్రియైన అమజ్యా చేసిన దాని ప్రకారం యెహోవా దృష్టికి యథార్ధంగా ప్రవర్తించాడు.

5 തന്നെ ദൈവഭയത്തിൽ അഭ്യസിപ്പിച്ച സെഖര്യാവിന്റെ ആയുഷ്കാലമെല്ലാം അദ്ദേഹം യഹോവയെ അന്വേഷിച്ചിരുന്നു; അക്കാലമത്രയും യഹോവ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു വിജയം കൊടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

౫దేవుని మాట వినేలా సలహాలిచ్చిన జెకర్యా రోజుల్లో ఉజ్జియా దేవుని ఆశ్రయించాడు. అతడు యెహోవాను ఆశ్రయించినంత కాలం దేవుడు అతణ్ణి వర్ధిల్లజేశాడు.

6 ഉസ്സീയാവ് ഫെലിസ്ത്യർക്കെതിരേ യുദ്ധത്തിനു പുറപ്പെട്ടു; ഗത്ത്, യബ്നേഹ്, അശ്ദോദ് എന്നീ പട്ടണങ്ങൾ പിടിച്ച് അവയുടെ മതിലുകൾ തകർത്തുകളഞ്ഞു. അദ്ദേഹം അശ്ദോദിനു ചുറ്റുപാടും, ഫെലിസ്ത്യരുടെ ഇടയിൽ മറ്റിടങ്ങളിലും പട്ടണങ്ങൾ പണിതു.

౬అతడు బయలుదేరి ఫిలిష్తీయులతో యుద్ధం చేశాడు. గాతు, యబ్నె, అష్డోదు పట్టణ ప్రాకారాలను పడగొట్టి, అష్డోదు దేశంలో ఫిలిష్తీయుల ప్రాంతంలో పట్టణాలను కట్టించాడు.

7 ദൈവം ഫെലിസ്ത്യർക്കും ഗൂർ-ബാലിൽ താമസിച്ചിരുന്ന അറബികൾക്കും മെയൂന്യർക്കും എതിരായുള്ള യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ഉസ്സീയാവിനെ സഹായിച്ചു.

౭ఫిలిష్తీయులతో, గూర్బయలులో నివసించిన అరబీయులతో, మెయోనీయులతో అతడు యుద్ధం చేసినప్పుడు దేవుడు అతనికి సహాయం చేశాడు.

8 അമ്മോന്യർ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു കപ്പം കൊടുത്തിരുന്നു. ഉസ്സീയാവ് ഏറ്റവും ശക്തനായിത്തീർന്നിരുന്നതിനാൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കീർത്തി ഈജിപ്റ്റിന്റെ അതിർത്തിവരെയും പരന്നു.

౮అమ్మోనీయులు ఉజ్జియాకు పన్ను చెల్లించారు. అతడు చాలా శక్తిమంతుడయ్యాడు కాబట్టి అతని కీర్తి ఇతర దేశాలకూ ఐగుప్తు వరకూ వ్యాపించింది.

9 ഉസ്സീയാവ് ജെറുശലേമിൽ കോൺകവാടത്തിലും താഴ്വരവാതിൽക്കലും മതിലിന്റെ തിരിവിലും ഗോപുരങ്ങൾ പണിത് സുരക്ഷിതമാക്കി.

౯ఉజ్జియా యెరూషలేములో మూల గుమ్మం దగ్గర, లోయ గుమ్మం దగ్గర, ప్రాకారపు మూల దగ్గర, బురుజులు కట్టించి వాటి చుట్టూ ప్రాకారాలు ఏర్పరచాడు.

10 കുന്നിൻപ്രദേശങ്ങളിലും സമഭൂമിയിലും അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു വളരെയേറെ കാലിക്കൂട്ടങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നതുകൊണ്ട് അദ്ദേഹം മരുഭൂമിയിൽ ഗോപുരങ്ങൾ പണിയിക്കുകയും അനേകം ജലസംഭരണികൾ കുഴിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. അദ്ദേഹം കൃഷിയിൽ അതീവ തത്പരനായിരുന്നതിനാൽ മലകളിലും താഴ്വരകളിലുമായി കർഷകരും മുന്തിരിത്തോപ്പുകളിൽ പണിചെയ്യുന്ന ജോലിക്കാരും അദ്ദേഹത്തിനുണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

౧౦అతడు అరణ్యంలో కావలి గోపురాలు కట్టించి చాలా బావులు తవ్వించాడు. అతనికి పల్లపు భూముల్లో, మైదాన భూముల్లో చాలా పశు సంపద ఉంది. కాబట్టి కొండ సీమలో ప్రాంతంలో అతనికి సారవంతమైన భూమీ రైతులూ ద్రాక్షతోట పనివారూ ఉన్నారు. ఎందుకంటే అతనికి వ్యవసాయమంటే ఎంతో ఇష్టం.

11 ഏതു നിമിഷവും യുദ്ധത്തിനു പുറപ്പെടാൻ ഒരുക്കമുള്ള നല്ല തഴക്കം സിദ്ധിച്ച സൈന്യം ഉസ്സീയാവിന് ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. രാജാവിന്റെ സേനാപതികളിൽ ഒരാളായ ഹനന്യായുടെ നിർദേശമനുസരിച്ച് ലേഖകനായ യെയീയേലും ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനായ മയസേയാവുംകൂടി സൈനികരുടെ എണ്ണം തിട്ടപ്പെടുത്തി, ഗണംതിരിച്ച് രേഖപ്പെടുത്തി.

౧౧దీనికి తోడు, ఉజ్జియాకు పోరాడే యోధులున్నారు. వారు లెక్క ప్రకారం గుంపులుగా ఏర్పడి యుద్ధానికి వెళ్ళేవారు. రాజు అధికారుల్లో కార్యదర్శి మయశేయా, ప్రధానమంత్రి యెహీయేలు వారి లెక్క ఎంతైనది చూసి పటాలాలుగా ఏర్పరచేవారు. వీరు హనన్యా చేతి కింద ఉన్నారు.

12 പരാക്രമശാലികളായ പിതൃഭവനത്തലവന്മാരുടെ ആകെ എണ്ണം 2,600 ആയിരുന്നു.

౧౨వారి పూర్వీకుల ఇంటి పెద్దల సంఖ్యను బట్టి పోరాడ గలిగిన వారు 2, 600 మంది.

13 ശത്രുക്കൾക്കെതിരേ രാജാവിനെ സഹായിക്കാൻ, ഈ കുടുംബത്തലവന്മാരുടെ ആധിപത്യത്തിൽ ശിക്ഷണം നേടിയ 3,07,500 പേരുള്ള ശക്തമായ ഒരു സൈന്യം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

౧౩రాజుకు సహాయం చేయడానికి శత్రువులతో యుద్ధం చేయడంలో పేరు పొందిన పరాక్రమశాలురైన 3,07,500 మంది సైన్యం, వారి చేతి కింద ఉంది.

14 മുഴുവൻ സൈന്യത്തിനും ആവശ്യമായ പരിച, കുന്തം, ശിരോകവചം, പടച്ചട്ട, വില്ല്, കവിണക്കല്ല് എന്നിവയെല്ലാം ഉസ്സീയാവ് ഒരുക്കിക്കൊടുത്തു.

౧౪ఉజ్జియా ఈ సైన్యమంతటికీ డాళ్లనూ, ఈటెలనూ, శిరస్త్రాణాలనూ, కవచాలనూ, విల్లులనూ, వడిసెలలనూ చేయించాడు.

15 ഗോപുരങ്ങളിലും മതിലിന്റെ മൂലക്കൊത്തളങ്ങളിലും സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ശത്രുക്കളുടെനേരേ അസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ എയ്യുന്നതിനും വലിയ കല്ലുകൾ ചുഴറ്റിയെറിയുന്നതിനും കൗശലവേലയിലെ വിദഗ്ദ്ധന്മാർ രൂപകൽപ്പനചെയ്ത യന്ത്രങ്ങൾ അദ്ദേഹം ജെറുശലേമിൽ ഉണ്ടാക്കിച്ചു. ഏറ്റവും പ്രബലനായിത്തീരുന്നതുവരെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് യഹോവയിൽനിന്ന് അത്ഭുതകരമായി സഹായം ലഭിച്ചിരുന്നതിനാൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കീർത്തി നാലുപാടും പരന്നു.

౧౫అతడు అంబులనూ పెద్దరాళ్లనూ ప్రయోగించడానికి నిపుణులు కల్పించిన యంత్రాలను యెరూషలేములో చేయించి కోటల్లో ప్రాకారాల్లో ఉంచాడు. అతడు స్థిరపడే వరకూ అతనికి ఆశ్చర్యకరమైన సహాయం కలిగింది కాబట్టి అతని కీర్తి సుదూర ప్రాంతాలకు వ్యాపించింది.

16 എന്നാൽ പ്രബലനായിക്കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ ഉസ്സീയാവിനുണ്ടായ നിഗളം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പതനത്തിനു വഴിതെളിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവയോട് അവിശ്വസ്തനായിത്തീർന്നു. സുഗന്ധധൂപപീഠത്തിന്മേൽ സ്വയം ധൂപവർഗം കത്തിക്കുന്നതിനായി അദ്ദേഹം ദൈവാലയത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ചു.

౧౬అయితే అతడు స్థిరపడిన తరువాత అతడు మనస్సులో గర్వించి చెడిపోయాడు. అతడు ధూపపీఠం మీద ధూపం వేయడానికి యెహోవా మందిరంలో ప్రవేశించి తన దేవుడైన యెహోవా మీద ద్రోహం చేశాడు.

17 അസര്യാപുരോഹിതനും യഹോവയുടെ പുരോഹിതന്മാരിൽ ധൈര്യശാലികളായ എൺപതുപേരും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ പിൻതുടർന്ന് അകത്തുകടന്നു.

౧౭యాజకుడైన అజర్యా, అతనితో కూడా ధైర్యవంతులైన యెహోవా యాజకులు 80 మంది అతనివెంట లోపలికి వెళ్ళారు.

18 അവർ ഉസ്സീയാരാജാവിനെ തടഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടു പറഞ്ഞു: “ഉസ്സീയാവേ, യഹോവയ്ക്കു ധൂപവർഗം കത്തിക്കുന്ന ശുശ്രൂഷ അങ്ങേക്കുള്ളതല്ല; അത് പുരോഹിതന്മാരും അഹരോന്റെ പിൻഗാമികളുമായ ശുദ്ധീകരിക്കപ്പെട്ടവർക്കു മാത്രമുള്ളതാണ്. അതിനാൽ അങ്ങ് വിശുദ്ധമന്ദിരം വിട്ടുപോകൂ; പാപംചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു. അതുകൊണ്ട് ദൈവമായ യഹോവയിൽനിന്ന് അങ്ങേക്കു ബഹുമതി ലഭിക്കുകയില്ല.”

౧౮వారు రాజైన ఉజ్జియాను ఎదిరించి “ఉజ్జియా, యెహోవాకు ధూపం వేయడం నీ పని కాదు. ధూపం వేయడానికి ప్రతిష్ఠించిన అహరోను సంతతివారైన యాజకుల పని అది. పరిశుద్ధస్థలంలో నుంచి బయటికి వెళ్ళు. నీవు ద్రోహం చేశావు. దేవుడైన యెహోవా సన్నిధిలో ఇది నీకు ఘనత కలగజేయదు” అని చెప్పారు.

19 ധൂപവർഗം കത്തിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ധൂപകലശം കൈയിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഉസ്സീയാവു കുപിതനായി. യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽ ധൂപപീഠത്തിന്റെമുമ്പിൽ പുരോഹിതന്മാരുടെനേരേ ക്രോധാവേശം പൂണ്ടുനിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ, അവരുടെ കണ്മുമ്പിൽവെച്ചുതന്നെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നെറ്റിയിൽ കുഷ്ഠം പൊങ്ങി.

౧౯ఉజ్జియా రౌద్రుడయ్యాడు. అతడు ధూపం వేయడానికి ధూపకలశం చేత్తో పట్టుకుని ఉన్నాడు. యెహోవా మందిరంలో ధూపపీఠం పక్కనే అతడు ఉన్నప్పుడు యాజకులు చూస్తూ ఉండగానే అతని నుదుటిపై కుష్టురోగం పుట్టింది.

20 പുരോഹിതമുഖ്യനായ അസര്യാവും മറ്റെല്ലാ പുരോഹിതന്മാരും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ നോക്കിയപ്പോൾ, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നെറ്റിയിൽ കുഷ്ഠമുള്ളതായിക്കണ്ടു. അവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തിടുക്കത്തിൽ പുറത്താക്കി; യഹോവ തന്നെ ദണ്ഡിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുകയാൽ വളരെവേഗത്തിൽ പുറത്തുകടക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹവും നിർബന്ധിതനായിരുന്നു.

౨౦ప్రధానయాజకుడైన అజర్యా, అతనితో ఉన్న యాజకులంతా అతని వైపు చూసినప్పుడు అతని నొసట కుష్టు కనిపించింది. కాబట్టి ఆలస్యం చేయకుండా అతడు అక్కడనుంచి బయటికి వెళ్లాలని వారు చెప్పారు. యెహోవా తనను దెబ్బ కొట్టాడని తెలుసుకుని బయటికి వెళ్ళడానికి అతడు కూడా త్వరపడ్డాడు.

21 മരണപര്യന്തം ഉസ്സീയാവു കുഷ്ഠരോഗിയായിരുന്നു. യഹോവയുടെ മന്ദിരത്തിൽനിന്നു പുറത്താക്കപ്പെട്ട്, കുഷ്ഠരോഗിയായ അദ്ദേഹം ഒരു പ്രത്യേക ഭവനത്തിൽ താമസിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മകനായ യോഥാം കൊട്ടാരത്തിന്റെ ചുമതലയേറ്റു; അദ്ദേഹമായിരുന്നു ദേശത്തു ഭരണംനടത്തിയിരുന്നത്.

౨౧రాజైన ఉజ్జియా చనిపోయే వరకూ కుష్టురోగిగానే ఉన్నాడు. కుష్టురోగిగా యెహోవా మందిరంలోకి పోకుండా కడగా ఉన్నాడు. కాబట్టి అతడు ప్రత్యేకంగా ఒక ఇంట్లో నివసించేవాడు. అతని కొడుకు యోతాము, రాజ భవనం మీద అధిపతిగా దేశప్రజలకు న్యాయం తీర్చేవాడు.

22 ഉസ്സീയാവിന്റെ ഭരണത്തിലെ മറ്റു സംഭവങ്ങൾ ആദ്യവസാനം ആമോസിന്റെ മകനായ യെശയ്യാപ്രവാചകൻ രേഖപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.

౨౨ఉజ్జియా గురించిన ఇతర విషయాలు ఆమోజు కుమారుడూ ప్రవక్త అయిన యెషయా రాశాడు.

23 ഉസ്സീയാവു നിദ്രപ്രാപിച്ച് തന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാരോട് ചേർന്നു. “അദ്ദേഹം കുഷ്ഠരോഗിയായിരുന്നല്ലോ,” എന്നു ജനം പറയുകയാൽ രാജാക്കന്മാരുടെ കല്ലറകൾക്കടുത്ത് അവരുടെതന്നെ വകയായ ഒരു ശ്മശാനഭൂമിയിൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ സംസ്കരിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മകനായ യോഥാം അദ്ദേഹത്തിനുശേഷം രാജാവായി.

౨౩ఉజ్జియా తన పూర్వీకులతో కూడా కన్ను మూశాడు. అతడు కుష్టురోగి అని రాజులకు చెందిన శ్మశానభూమిలో అతని పూర్వీకుల దగ్గర అతణ్ణి పాతిపెట్టారు. అతని కొడుకు యోతాము అతనికి బదులు రాజయ్యాడు.