2 ദിനവൃത്താന്തം 34

1 രാജാവാകുമ്പോൾ യോശിയാവിന് എട്ടു വയസ്സായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം മുപ്പത്തിയൊന്നു വർഷം ജെറുശലേമിൽ വാണു.

౧యోషీయా పరిపాలించడం మొదలుపెట్టినప్పుడు 8 ఏళ్ల వాడు. అతడు యెరూషలేములో 31 ఏళ్ళు పాలించాడు.

2 യോശിയാവ് യഹോവയുടെ ദൃഷ്ടിയിൽ നീതിയായുള്ളതു പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ പൂർവപിതാവായ ദാവീദിന്റെ വഴികളിൽത്തന്നെ ജീവിച്ചു; അതുവിട്ട് ഇടത്തോട്ടോ വലത്തോട്ടോ മാറിയതുമില്ല.

౨అతడు యెహోవా దృష్టిలో సరిగా ప్రవర్తించాడు. తన పూర్వీకుడైన దావీదు మార్గాల్లో నడుస్తూ కుడికిగానీ ఎడమకుగానీ తొలగలేదు.

3 തന്റെ ഭരണത്തിന്റെ എട്ടാംവർഷം, അദ്ദേഹം നന്നേ ചെറുപ്പമായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾത്തന്നെ, യോശിയാവ് തന്റെ പൂർവപിതാവായ ദാവീദിന്റെ ദൈവത്തെ അന്വേഷിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി. പന്ത്രണ്ടാംവർഷം, ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളും അശേരാപ്രതിഷ്ഠകളും കൊത്തുപണിയിൽ തീർത്ത ബിംബങ്ങളും വാർത്തുണ്ടാക്കിയ പ്രതിമകളും നിർമാർജനംചെയ്ത് യെഹൂദ്യയെയും ജെറുശലേമിനെയും ശുദ്ധീകരിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി.

౩తన పాలన 8 వ సంవత్సరంలో తానింకా బాలుడుగా ఉండగానే అతడు తన పూర్వీకుడైన దావీదు దేవుణ్ణి వెతకడం మొదలుపెట్టాడు. తన 12 వ ఏట అతడు ఉన్నత పూజాస్థలాలనూ అషేరా దేవతాస్తంభాలనూ పడగొట్టి, చెక్కిన విగ్రహాలనూ పోత విగ్రహాలనూ తీసివేసి, యూదానూ యెరూషలేమునూ శుద్ధి చేయడం మొదలు పెట్టాడు.

4 അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തരവനുസരിച്ച് ജനം ബാലിന്റെ ബലിപീഠങ്ങൾ തകർത്തു; അവയ്ക്കു മുകളിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന ധൂപബലിപീഠങ്ങളും വെട്ടിനുറുക്കി. അശേരാപ്രതിഷ്ഠകളും കൊത്തുപണിയിൽ തീർത്ത ബിംബങ്ങളും വാർത്തുണ്ടാക്കിയ പ്രതിമകളും അവർ അടിച്ചുതകർത്തു പൊടിയാക്കി; ആ പൊടി അവയ്ക്കു ബലികൾ അർപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നവരുടെ ശവകുടീരങ്ങളിൽ വിതറി.

౪అతడు చూస్తుండగానే ప్రజలు బయలు దేవుడి బలిపీఠాలను పడగొట్టారు. వాటిపైన ఉన్న ధూప వేదికలను నరికివేశారు. అషేరా దేవత స్తంభాలనూ, చెక్కిన విగ్రహాలనూ, పోతవిగ్రహాలనూ పగలగొట్టి పొడి చేసేశారు. వాటికి బలులు అర్పించిన వారి సమాధుల మీద ఆ పొడి చల్లారు.

5 പൂജാരികളുടെ അസ്ഥികൾ അദ്ദേഹം അവരുടെ ബലിപീഠങ്ങളിൽ ദഹിപ്പിച്ചു; ഇങ്ങനെ അദ്ദേഹം യെഹൂദ്യയെയും ജെറുശലേമിനെയും ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ചു.

౫ఆ పూజారుల ఎముకలను వాళ్ళ బలిపీఠాల మీద అతడు కాల్పించి, యూదానూ యెరూషలేమునూ శుద్ధి చేశాడు.

6 മനശ്ശെ, എഫ്രയീം, ശിമെയോൻ എന്നിവരുടെ നഗരങ്ങളിലും നഫ്താലിവരെയും അവയ്ക്കുചുറ്റും നശിച്ചുകിടന്ന ഇടങ്ങളിലും അവർ ഇപ്രകാരംതന്നെ ചെയ്തു.

౬అలాగే అతడు మనష్షే, ఎఫ్రాయిము, షిమ్యోను వారి పట్టణాల్లో నఫ్తాలి వరకూ వాటి చుట్టు పక్కల ఉన్న శిథిలాల్లో కూడా బలిపీఠాలను పడగొట్టాడు.

7 അങ്ങനെ അവർ ഇസ്രായേലിലെല്ലാം ബലിപീഠങ്ങൾ ഇടിച്ചുനിരത്തുകയും അശേരാപ്രതിഷ്ഠകളും ബിംബങ്ങളും തകർത്തു പൊടിയാക്കുകയും ധൂപബലിപീഠങ്ങളെല്ലാം വെട്ടിനുറുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. അതിനുശേഷം യോശിയാവ് ജെറുശലേമിലേക്കു മടങ്ങി.

౭అతడు బలిపీఠాలనూ అషేరా దేవత స్తంభాలనూ పడగొట్టి చెక్కిన విగ్రహాలను పొడి చేసి, ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేశమంతటా ఉన్న ధూపవేదికలను నరికి వేసి, యెరూషలేముకు తిరిగి వచ్చాడు.

8 യോശിയാവിന്റെ ഭരണത്തിന്റെ പതിനെട്ടാംവർഷം നാടും ദൈവാലയവും ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ചുകഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ, അസല്യാവിന്റെ മകനായ ശാഫാനെയും നഗരാധിപതിയായ മയസേയാവിനെയും രാജകീയ രേഖാപാലകനും യോവാശിന്റെ മകനുമായ യോവാഹിനെയും തന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിന്റെ അറ്റകുറ്റങ്ങൾ തീർക്കുന്നതിനായി അദ്ദേഹം നിയോഗിച്ചു.

౮అతని పాలనలో 18 వ ఏట దేశాన్నీ మందిరాన్నీ బాగు చేయించిన తరువాత, అతడు అజల్యా కొడుకు షాఫానునూ పట్టణ అధిపతి మయశేయానునూ కార్యదర్శి యోహాహాజు కొడుకు యోవాహాజునూ తన దేవుడైన యెహోవా మందిరాన్ని బాగుచేయడానికి పంపాడు.

9 അവർ മഹാപുരോഹിതനായ ഹിൽക്കിയാവിന്റെ അടുത്തുചെന്ന് ദൈവാലയത്തിൽ കിട്ടിയിരുന്ന പണം അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ഏൽപ്പിച്ചു. ഇത് മനശ്ശെയിൽനിന്നും എഫ്രയീമിൽനിന്നും ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ സകലശേഷിപ്പിൽനിന്നും യെഹൂദ്യയിലെയും ബെന്യാമീനിലെയും സകലജനങ്ങളിൽനിന്നും ജെറുശലേംനിവാസികളിൽനിന്നും ദ്വാരപാലകരായ ലേവ്യർ ശേഖരിച്ചതായിരുന്നു.

౯వారు ప్రధానయాజకుడైన హిల్కీయా దగ్గరికి వచ్చి, అంతకు ముందు దేవుని మందిరంలోకి తీసుకు వచ్చిన డబ్బును అతనికి అప్పగించారు. ద్వారపాలకులైన లేవీయులు మనష్షే ఎఫ్రాయిమీయుల దేశాల్లోని ఇశ్రాయేలు వారిలో మిగిలి ఉన్న వారందరి దగ్గరనుంచి, యూదా బెన్యామీనీయులందరి దగ్గరనుంచి ఆ డబ్బు సమకూర్చారు.

10 യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിലെ പണികൾക്കു മേൽനോട്ടം വഹിക്കുന്നതിനായി നിയോഗിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന ആളുകളെ അവർ ആ പണം ഏൽപ്പിച്ചു. അവർ ആ പണം, ആലയം പുനരുദ്ധരിക്കാൻവേണ്ടി പണിയിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന തൊഴിലാളികൾക്കു വേതനമായി കൊടുത്തു.

౧౦వారు ఆ డబ్బుని యెహోవా మందిరపు పనిమీద ఉన్న తనిఖీదారులకు అప్పగించారు. వారు దాన్ని బాగు చేయడానికీ యూదా రాజులు నిర్లక్ష్యం చేసిన ఇళ్ళకు దూలాలను అమర్చడానికీ

11 മുമ്പ് യെഹൂദാരാജാക്കന്മാർ നശിച്ചുപോകുന്നതിന് അനുവദിച്ചിരുന്ന ചെത്തിയകല്ല്, ചെറിയ ചട്ടങ്ങൾക്കുള്ള തടി, കെട്ടിടങ്ങളുടെ തുലാങ്ങൾക്കുവേണ്ടിയുള്ള തടി ഇവ വാങ്ങുന്നതിനായി മരപ്പണിക്കാർക്കും ശില്പികൾക്കും പണം കൊടുത്തു.

౧౧చెక్కిన రాళ్లను జోడించడానికీ మ్రానులు కొనడానికీ యెహోవా మందిరంలో పనిచేసేవారికీ శిల్పకారులకూ ఆ డబ్బులిచ్చారు.

12 ജോലിക്കാർ വിശ്വസ്തതയോടെ പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു; അവർക്കു നിർദേശങ്ങൾ കൊടുക്കുന്നതിനു യഹത്ത്, ഓബദ്യാവ്, മെരാരിയുടെ പിൻഗാമികളായ ലേവ്യരും കെഹാത്തിന്റെ പിൻഗാമികളായ സെഖര്യാവ്, മെശുല്ലാം എന്നിവരും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

౧౨ఆ మనుష్యులు నమ్మకంగా ఆ పని చేశారు. వారి మీద తనిఖీదారులు ఎవరంటే, లేవీ గోత్రీకుల్లో మెరారీ వంశం వారైన యహతు, ఓబద్యా, కహాతు వంశీకులు జెకర్యా, మెషుల్లాము. పని నడిపించడానికి ఏర్పాటైన లేవీయులంతా వాయిద్యాలు వాయించడంలో ఆరితేరిన వారు.

13 സംഗീതോപകരണങ്ങൾ മീട്ടുന്നതിൽ വിദഗ്ദ്ധരായ ലേവ്യർ ചുമട്ടുകാരുടെ മേൽനോട്ടം വഹിച്ചിരുന്നു. അവർ എല്ലാത്തരം പണികളുടെയും മേൽവിചാരകരുമായിരുന്നു. ലേവ്യരിൽ ചിലർ ലേഖകരും വേദജ്ഞരും വാതിൽകാവൽക്കാരുമായി സേവനം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു.

౧౩బరువులు మోసేవారి మీదా ప్రతిరకమైన పని జరిగించేవారిమీదా ఆ లేవీయులను తనిఖీదారులుగా నియమించారు. లేవీయుల్లో కొంతమందిని కార్యదర్శకులుగానూ, పరిచారకులుగానూ, ద్వారపాలకులుగానూ నియమించారు.

14 യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിനുള്ളിൽ നിക്ഷേപിച്ചിരുന്ന ദ്രവ്യം അവർ പുറത്തേക്ക് എടുത്തുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നപ്പോൾ, മോശമുഖാന്തരം തങ്ങൾക്കു നൽകപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന യഹോവയുടെ ന്യായപ്രമാണഗ്രന്ഥം ഹിൽക്കിയാപുരോഹിതൻ കണ്ടെത്തി.

౧౪యెహోవా మందిరంలోకి తెచ్చిన డబ్బును బయటికి తీసుకు వచ్చినప్పుడు, మోషేద్వారా యెహోవా అందించిన ధర్మశాస్త్రగ్రంథం యాజకుడైన హిల్కీయాకు కనిపించింది.

15 “യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽ ന്യായപ്രമാണഗ്രന്ഥം ഞാൻ കണ്ടെത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു,” എന്ന് ഹിൽക്കിയാവ് ലേഖകനായ ശാഫാനോടു പറഞ്ഞു; അദ്ദേഹം ആ തുകൽച്ചുരുൾ ശാഫാനെ ഏൽപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

౧౫అప్పుడు హిల్కీయా “యెహోవా మందిరంలో ధర్మశాస్త్ర గ్రంథం నాకు దొరికింది” అని శాస్త్రి అయిన షాఫానుతో చెప్పి ఆ గ్రంథాన్ని షాఫానుకు అప్పగించాడు.

16 ശാഫാൻ ആ പുസ്തകം രാജാവിന്റെ അടുത്തുകൊണ്ടുവന്ന് ഇപ്രകാരം അദ്ദേഹത്തെ അറിയിച്ചു: “അങ്ങയുടെ സേവകന്മാരെ ഏൽപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ജോലികളെല്ലാം അവർ നിർവഹിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.

౧౬షాఫాను ఆ గ్రంథాన్ని రాజు దగ్గరికి తీసుకుపోయి రాజుతో ఇలా అన్నాడు. “నీ సేవకులకు నీవు ఆజ్ఞాపించినదంతా వారు చేస్తున్నారు.

17 യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന പണം അവർ പുറത്തെടുത്ത് ജോലിക്കാരെയും മേൽവിചാരകന്മാരെയും ഏൽപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.”

౧౭యెహోవా మందిరంలో దొరికిన డబ్బుని వారు పోగు చేసి తనిఖీదారుల చేతికీ పనివారి చేతికీ అప్పగించారు.”

18 കാര്യവിചാരകനായ ശാഫാൻ തുടർന്നു രാജാവിനെ അറിയിച്ചു: “പുരോഹിതനായ ഹിൽക്കിയാവ് ദൈവാലയത്തിൽനിന്നും കണ്ടെടുത്ത ഒരു പുസ്തകം എന്നെ ഏൽപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.” ലേഖകനായ ശാഫാൻ അതു രാജസന്നിധിയിൽ വായിച്ചുകേൾപ്പിച്ചു.

౧౮“యాజకుడైన హిల్కీయా నాకు ఒక గ్రంథం ఇచ్చాడు” అని లేఖకుడు షాఫాను, రాజుకు చెప్పి, దాన్ని రాజు ఎదుట చదివి వినిపించాడు.

19 രാജാവ് ന്യായപ്രമാണത്തിലെ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടിട്ട് വസ്ത്രംകീറി.

౧౯అతడు ధర్మశాస్త్రపు మాటలు చదివి వినిపించినప్పుడు రాజు విని తన బట్టలు చించుకుని

20 അദ്ദേഹം ഹിൽക്കിയാവിനും ശാഫാന്റെ മകനായ അഹീക്കാമിനും മീഖായുടെ മകനായ അബ്ദോനും ലേഖകനായ ശാഫാനും രാജാവിന്റെ പരിചാരകനായ അസായാവിനും ഈ ഉത്തരവുകൾ നൽകി:

౨౦హిల్కీయాకూ, షాఫాను కొడుకు అహీకాముకూ, మీకా కొడుకు అబ్దోనుకూ, శాస్త్రి అయిన షాఫానుకూ, రాజు సేవకుడు అశాయాకూ ఇలా ఆజ్ఞాపించాడు,

21 “എനിക്കുവേണ്ടിയും ഇസ്രായേലിലും യെഹൂദ്യയിലും ശേഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ജനത്തിനുവേണ്ടിയും നിങ്ങൾ ചെല്ലുക. കണ്ടുകിട്ടിയിരിക്കുന്ന ഈ ഗ്രന്ഥത്തിൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്ന കാര്യങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച്, യഹോവയുടെ ഹിതമെന്തെന്ന് ആരായുക! നമ്മുടെ പൂർവികർ യഹോവയുടെ വചനങ്ങൾ പ്രമാണിച്ചിട്ടില്ല; ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നപ്രകാരം അവർ പ്രവർത്തിച്ചിട്ടുമില്ല. അതിനാൽ യഹോവയുടെ ഉഗ്രകോപം നമ്മുടെമേൽ ചൊരിയപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.”

౨౧“మీరు వెళ్లి దొరకిన ఈ గ్రంథంలోని మాటల గురించి నాకోసం ఇశ్రాయేలు యూదాలో మిగిలిన వారి కోసం యెహోవా చిత్తాన్ని అడగండి. మన పూర్వీకులు ఈ గ్రంథంలో రాసిన మాటలను పట్టించుకోలేదు, దానిలో రాసిన వాటన్నిటి ప్రకారం చేయలేదు కాబట్టి యెహోవా మనమీద తన కోపాన్ని చాలా ఎక్కువగా కుమ్మరించాడు.”

22 ഹിൽക്കിയാവും രാജാവു നിയോഗിച്ച മറ്റാളുകളും പ്രവാചികയായ ഹുൽദായോടു സംസാരിക്കാനായി ചെന്നു. ഹസ്രയുടെ മകനായ തോക്ഹത്തിന്റെ മകനും രാജവസ്ത്രം സൂക്ഷിപ്പുകാരനുമായ ശല്ലൂമിന്റെ ഭാര്യയായിരുന്നു അവൾ. അവൾ ജെറുശലേമിന്റെ പുതിയഭാഗത്തു താമസിച്ചിരുന്നു.

౨౨అప్పుడు హిల్కీయా, రాజు నియమించినవారూ హుల్దా అనే ప్రవక్త్రి దగ్గరికి వెళ్ళారు. ఆమె షల్లూము భార్య. అతడు తిక్వా కొడుకు, వస్త్రశాల తనిఖీదారుడైన హస్రా మనుమడు. ఆమె అప్పుడు యెరూషలేముకు చెందిన రెండవ భాగంలో నివసించేది. వారు ఆమెతో విషయం చెప్పారు.

23 അവൾ അവരോടു പറഞ്ഞു: “ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: നിങ്ങളെ എന്റെ അടുത്തേക്കയച്ച പുരുഷനോടു ചെന്നു പറയുക.

౨౩ఆమె వారితో ఇలా చెప్పింది. “ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేవుడైన యెహోవా చెప్పేది ఏంటంటే,

24 ‘യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: ഞാൻ ഈ സ്ഥലത്തിന്മേലും ഇതിലെ നിവാസികളിന്മേലും സർവനാശം—യെഹൂദാരാജാവിന്റെ മുമ്പാകെ വായിക്കപ്പെട്ട ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്ന സമസ്തശാപങ്ങളുംതന്നെ—വരുത്താൻപോകുന്നു.

౨౪‘వినండి, నేను ఈ స్థలం మీదికీ, దానిలో నివసించేవారి మీదికీ విపత్తు తీసుకు రాబోతున్నాను, యూదా రాజు ఎదుట చదివి వినిపించిన గ్రంథంలో రాసిన శాపాలన్నీ రప్పిస్తాను.

25 കാരണം അവർ എന്നെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയും അന്യദേവന്മാർക്കു ധൂപാർച്ചന നടത്തുകയും തങ്ങളുടെ സകലപ്രവൃത്തികളാലും എന്റെ കോപത്തെ ജ്വലിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തതിനാൽ ഈ സ്ഥലത്തിന്മേൽ ഞാൻ എന്റെ ക്രോധം ചൊരിയും; അതു ശമിക്കുകയുമില്ല.’

౨౫వారు నన్ను విడిచి పెట్టి ఇతర దేవుళ్ళకు ధూపం వేసి, తమ పనులతో నాకు కోపం పుట్టించారు కాబట్టి నా కోపాన్ని ఈ స్థలం మీద కుమ్మరిస్తాను. అది ఆరదు.’ అయితే, యెహోవా చిత్తాన్ని తెలుసుకోడానికి నాదగ్గరికి మిమ్మల్ని పంపిన యూదా రాజుకు ఈ విషయం తెలియచేయండి,

26 നീ കേട്ട വചനങ്ങളെ സംബന്ധിച്ച്, ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ കൽപ്പിക്കുന്നത് ഇതാണ് എന്ന്, യഹോവയുടെഹിതം ആരായുന്നതിനു നിങ്ങളെ അയച്ച യെഹൂദാരാജാവിനോടു ചെന്നു പറയുക:

౨౬నీవు విన్న మాటల గురించి ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేవుడైన యెహోవా తెలియచేసేదేంటంటే,

27 ഈ സ്ഥലത്തിനും ഇതിലെ നിവാസികൾക്കും എതിരായി യഹോവ കൽപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നതെന്തെന്നു കേട്ടപ്പോൾ നിന്റെ ഹൃദയം അനുതപിക്കുകയും നീ തന്നത്താൻ ദൈവമുമ്പാകെ വിനയപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു. നീ എന്റെ സന്നിധിയിൽ വിനയപ്പെട്ട് വസ്ത്രംകീറി വിലപിച്ചതിനാൽ ഞാൻ നിന്റെ അപേക്ഷ കേട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന് യഹോവ അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു.

౨౭‘నీ మనస్సు మెత్తనిది కాబట్టి, ఈ స్థలం మీదా దానిలో నివసించే వారి మీదా దేవుని మాటలను నీవు విని, నా ముందు నిన్ను నీవు తగ్గించుకుని నీ బట్టలు చించుకుని నా ముందు ఏడ్చావు కాబట్టి నేను కూడా నీ మాట విన్నాను’ ఇది యెహోవా ప్రకటన.

28 ഞാൻ നിന്നെ നിന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാരോടു ചേർത്തുകൊള്ളും; നീ സമാധാനത്തോടെ അടക്കപ്പെടും. ഞാൻ ഈ സ്ഥലത്തിന്മേലും ഇതിൽ വസിക്കുന്നവരുടെമേലും വരുത്തുന്ന വിപത്തുകളൊന്നും നിന്റെ കണ്ണുകൾ കാണുകയില്ല.” അങ്ങനെ അവർ മടങ്ങിച്ചെന്ന്, പ്രവാചികയുടെ മറുപടി രാജാവിനെ അറിയിച്ചു.

౨౮‘నేను నీ పూర్వీకుల దగ్గరికి నిన్ను చేరుస్తాను. నీవు ప్రశాంతంగా నీ సమాధికి చేరతావు. ఈ స్థలం మీదా దానిలో నివసించే వారి మీదా నేను రప్పించే విపత్తు నీవు నీ కంటితో చూడవు.’” వారు రాజు దగ్గరికి ఈ సందేశం తీసికెళ్లారు.

29 പിന്നെ രാജാവ് യെഹൂദ്യയിലും ജെറുശലേമിലുമുള്ള സകലനേതാക്കന്മാരെയും വിളിച്ചുവരുത്തി.

౨౯రాజు, యూదా, యెరూషలేములలోని పెద్దలందరినీ పిలిపించాడు.

30 യെഹൂദാജനതയെയും ജെറുശലേംനിവാസികളെയും പുരോഹിതന്മാരെയും ലേവ്യരെയും, വലുപ്പച്ചെറുപ്പംകൂടാതെ ആബാലവൃദ്ധം ജനങ്ങളെയും കൂട്ടിക്കൊണ്ട് അദ്ദേഹം യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിലേക്കു ചെന്നു. യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽനിന്നു കണ്ടുകിട്ടിയ ഉടമ്പടിയുടെ ഗ്രന്ഥത്തിലെ വചനങ്ങളെല്ലാം അവർ കേൾക്കെ രാജാവു വായിച്ചു.

౩౦రాజూ, యూదావారంతా, యెరూషలేము నివాసులంతా, యాజకులూ, లేవీయులూ, ప్రజల్లో గొప్పవారూ, సామాన్యులూ యెహోవా మందిరానికి వచ్చారు. ఆప్పుడు అతడు యెహోవా మందిరంలో దొరికిన నిబంధన గ్రంథపు మాటలన్నీ వారికి చదివి వినిపించాడు.

31 താൻ യഹോവയെ പിൻതുടരുമെന്നും അവിടത്തെ കൽപ്പനകളും നിയമവ്യവസ്ഥകളും ഉത്തരവുകളും പൂർണഹൃദയത്തോടും പൂർണാത്മാവോടുംകൂടെ പ്രമാണിക്കുമെന്നും അങ്ങനെ ഈ നിയമഗ്രന്ഥത്തിൽ എഴുതപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന ഉടമ്പടി അനുസരിക്കുമെന്നും രാജാവ് അധികാരസ്തംഭത്തിനരികെ നിന്ന് യഹോവയുടെ സന്നിധിയിൽ ഉടമ്പടി പുതുക്കി.

౩౧రాజు తన స్థలం లో నిలబడి, ఆయనను అనుసరిస్తూ ఆయన ఇచ్చిన ఆజ్ఞలనూ శాసనాలనూ కట్టడలనూ పూర్ణమనస్సుతో పూర్ణహృదయంతో అనుసరిస్తూ ఈ గ్రంథంలో రాసిన నిబంధన మాటల ప్రకారం ప్రవర్తిస్తానని యెహోవా ముందు నిబంధన చేసుకున్నాడు.

32 ജെറുശലേമിലും ബെന്യാമീനിലുമുള്ള സകലരോടും ഈ വിധം സ്വയം പ്രതിജ്ഞയെടുക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹം ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു. തങ്ങളുടെ പിതാക്കന്മാരുടെ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ഉടമ്പടിക്കനുസൃതമായി ജെറുശലേം ജനത ദൈവവുമായി അപ്രകാരം പ്രതിജ്ഞചെയ്തു.

౩౨అతడు యెరూషలేములో ఉన్న వారందరినీ బెన్యామీనీయులందరినీ ఆ నిబంధనకు సమ్మతించేలా చేశాడు. యెరూషలేము నివాసులు తమ పూర్వీకుల దేవుడైన దేవుని నిబంధన ప్రకారం ప్రవర్తించారు.

33 ഇസ്രായേൽജനതയുടെ വകയായിരുന്ന സകലപ്രദേശങ്ങളിൽനിന്നും സകലമ്ലേച്ഛവിഗ്രഹങ്ങളെയും യോശിയാവു നീക്കിക്കളഞ്ഞു. ഇസ്രായേലിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന സകലരും തങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവയെ സേവിക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹം സംഗതിവരുത്തി. അദ്ദേഹം ജീവിച്ചിരുന്നകാലംവരെ തങ്ങളുടെ പിതാക്കന്മാരുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവയെ പിൻതുടരുന്നതിൽനിന്ന് അവർ വ്യതിചലിച്ചില്ല.

౩౩యోషీయా ఇశ్రాయేలీయులకు చెందిన ప్రాంతాలన్నిటిలోనుంచి అసహ్యమైన వాటన్నిటినీ తీసివేశాడు. ఇశ్రాయేలీయులంతా తమ దేవుడైన యెహోవాను సేవించేలా చేశాడు. అతడు బతికిన రోజులన్నీ వారు తమ పూర్వీకుల దేవుడైన యెహోవాను అనుసరించడం మానలేదు.