2 രാജാക്കന്മാർ 19
1 ഹിസ്കിയാരാജാവ് ഇതു കേട്ടപ്പോൾ വസ്ത്രംകീറി, ചാക്കുശീലയുടുത്ത് യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിലേക്കു ചെന്നു.
౧వాళ్ళ నివేదిక హిజ్కియా విన్నప్పుడు, తన బట్టలు చింపుకుని గోనెపట్ట కట్టుకుని యెహోవా మందిరానికి వెళ్ళాడు.
2 അദ്ദേഹം കൊട്ടാരം ഭരണാധിപനായ എല്യാക്കീമിനെയും ലേഖകനായ ശെബ്നയെയും പുരോഹിതന്മാരിൽ പ്രധാനികളെയും ചാക്കുശീല ധരിച്ചവരായി ആമോസിന്റെ മകനായ യെശയ്യാപ്രവാചകന്റെ അടുക്കൽ അയച്ചു.
౨గృహ నిర్వాహకుడైన ఎల్యాకీమునూ, శాస్త్రి షెబ్నానూ, యాజకుల్లో పెద్దలనూ, ప్రవక్త అయిన ఆమోజు కొడుకు యెషయా దగ్గరికి పంపాడు.
3 അവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തോടു പറഞ്ഞു: “ഹിസ്കിയാവ് ഇപ്രകാരം പറയുന്നു: ‘കുഞ്ഞ് ജനിക്കാറായിരിക്കുന്നു, എന്നാൽ അതിനെ പ്രസവിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ശക്തി അമ്മയ്ക്കില്ല’ അതുപോലെ ഈ ദിനം കഷ്ടതയുടെയും അധിക്ഷേപത്തിന്റെയും അപമാനത്തിന്റെയും ദിനമായിത്തീർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു.
౩వీళ్ళు గోనెపట్ట కట్టుకుని అతని దగ్గరికి వచ్చి అతనితో “హిజ్కియా చెప్పేదేమంటే, ఇది కష్టం, శిక్ష, దూషణల దినం. పిల్లలు పుట్టే సమయం వచ్చింది, కాని కనడానికి శక్తి లేదు.
4 ജീവനുള്ള ദൈവത്തെ അവഹേളിക്കുന്നതിനായി അശ്ശൂർരാജാവ് അയച്ച യുദ്ധക്കളത്തിലെ അധിപൻ പറഞ്ഞ വാക്കുകളെല്ലാം അങ്ങയുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ ഒരുപക്ഷേ കേൾക്കും; ആ വാക്കുകൾമൂലം അങ്ങയുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ അയാളെ ശിക്ഷിക്കും. അതിനാൽ ഇസ്രായേലിൽ ഇന്നുള്ള ശേഷിപ്പിനുവേണ്ടി അങ്ങു പ്രാർഥിക്കണേ!”
౪జీవం కలిగిన దేవుణ్ణి దూషించడానికి అష్షూరు రాజైన తన యజమాని పంపిన రబ్షాకే పలికిన మాటలన్నీ నీ దేవుడైన యెహోవా ఒకవేళ విని, నీ దేవుడైన యెహోవా విన్న ఆ మాటలను బట్టి ఆయన అష్షూరురాజును గద్దించొచ్చు. కాబట్టి ఇక్కడ మిగిలి ఉన్న వాళ్ళ కోసం నీవు ప్రార్థన చెయ్యి.”
5 ഹിസ്കിയാരാജാവിന്റെ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്മാർ യെശയ്യാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ വന്നപ്പോൾ
౫రాజైన హిజ్కియా సేవకులు యెషయా దగ్గరికి వచ్చినప్పుడు,
6 അദ്ദേഹം അവരോടു പറഞ്ഞു: “നിങ്ങളുടെ യജമാനനോടു പറയുക, ‘യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: നീ കേട്ട വാക്കുകൾമൂലം ഭയപ്പെടേണ്ട, ആ വാക്കുകൾമൂലം, അശ്ശൂർരാജാവിന്റെ ദാസന്മാർ എന്നെ നിന്ദിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.
౬యెషయా వాళ్ళతో “మీ యజమానికి ఈ మాట తెలియజేయండి. యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, అష్షూరురాజు పనివారు నన్ను దూషిస్తూ పలికిన ఆ మాటలు నీవు విని భయపడొద్దు.
7 ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുക! ഞാൻ അവന്റെമേൽ ഒരു ആത്മാവിനെ അയയ്ക്കും; അതുമൂലം അവൻ ഒരു പ്രത്യേക വാർത്തകേട്ട് സ്വന്തം ദേശത്തേക്കു മടങ്ങും. അവിടെവെച്ച് ഞാൻ അവനെ വാളിനിരയാക്കും.’”
౭అతనిలో ఒక ఆత్మను నేను పుట్టిస్తాను. అతడు అ వదంతి విని తన దేశానికి వెళ్ళిపోతాడు. అతని దేశంలో అతన్ని కత్తితో చంపుతారు” అన్నాడు.
8 അശ്ശൂർരാജാവ് ലാഖീശിൽനിന്ന് പിൻവാങ്ങി എന്നു കേട്ടപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ യുദ്ധക്കളത്തിലെ അധിപനും ജെറുശലേമിൽനിന്ന് പിൻവാങ്ങി. അദ്ദേഹം മടങ്ങിച്ചെല്ലുമ്പോൾ രാജാവ് ലിബ്നായ്ക്കെതിരേ യുദ്ധംചെയ്യുന്നതായി കണ്ടു.
౮అష్షూరురాజు లాకీషు పట్టణాన్ని విడిచి వెళ్లి లిబ్నా మీద యుద్ధం చేస్తూ ఉన్నప్పుడు, రబ్షాకే వెళ్లి అతన్ని కలుసుకున్నాడు.
9 കൂശ് രാജാവായ തിർഹാക്കാ തന്നോടു യുദ്ധംചെയ്യുന്നതിനായി വരുന്നുണ്ട് എന്ന വാർത്ത സൻഹേരീബിനു ലഭിച്ചിരുന്നു. അതിനാൽ അദ്ദേഹം വീണ്ടും തന്റെ സന്ദേശവുമായി ഹിസ്കിയാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ദൂതന്മാരെ അയച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ സന്ദേശം ഇപ്രകാരമായിരുന്നു:
౯అప్పుడు, కూషురాజు తిర్హాకా తన మీద యుద్ధం చెయ్యడానికి వచ్చాడని అష్షూరు రాజు విన్నాడు. అతడు ఇంకొకసారి హిజ్కియా దగ్గరికి వార్తాహరులను పంపాడు.
10 “യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ ഹിസ്കിയാവിനോടു പറയുക: ‘ജെറുശലേം അശ്ശൂർരാജാവിന്റെ കൈയിൽ ഏൽപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുകയില്ല എന്നു പറഞ്ഞ്,’ നീ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്ന നിന്റെ ദൈവം നിന്നെ വഞ്ചിക്കരുത്;
౧౦“యూదారాజు హిజ్కియాతో ఈ విధంగా చెప్పండి. యెరూషలేము అష్షూరురాజు చేతికి చిక్కదు అని చెప్పి నీవు నమ్ముకొన్న నీ దేవుడి వల్ల మోసపోవద్దు.
11 അശ്ശൂർരാജാക്കന്മാർ സകലരാജ്യങ്ങളെയും ഉന്മൂലനംചെയ്ത് അവയോടു ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നതെന്താണെന്ന് നീ തീർച്ചയായും കേട്ടിരിക്കും. ആ നിലയ്ക്ക് നീ വിടുവിക്കപ്പെടുമോ?
౧౧చూడు, అష్షూరు రాజులు అన్ని దేశాలను పూర్తిగా నాశనం చేసిన సంగతి నీకు వినబడింది గదా, నీవు మాత్రం తప్పించుకోగలవా?
12 എന്റെ പൂർവികർ നശിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള രാഷ്ട്രങ്ങളെ അവരുടെ ദേവന്മാർ വിടുവിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ? ഗോസാൻ, ഹാരാൻ, രേസെഫ്, തെലസ്സാരിലെ എദേന്യർ എന്നിവരിൽ ആരുടെയെങ്കിലും ദേവന്മാർക്ക് അതു കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ടോ?
౧౨నా పూర్వికులు నాశనం చేసిన గోజాను, హారాను, రెజెపు ప్రజలు గానీ, తెలశ్శారులో ఉన్న ఏదెనీయులు గానీ, తమ దేవుళ్ళ సాయం వల్ల తప్పించుకున్నారా?
13 ഹമാത്തുരാജാവും അർപ്പാദുരാജാവും എവിടെ? ലായീർ സെഫർവയിം, ഹേന, ഇവ്വ എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലെ രാജാക്കന്മാരും എവിടെ?”
౧౩హమాతు రాజు ఏమయ్యాడు? అర్పాదు, సెపర్వియీము, హేన, ఇవ్వా అనే పట్టణాల రాజులు ఏమయ్యారు?” అని వార్త పంపాడు.
14 ഹിസ്കിയാവ് സന്ദേശവാഹകരുടെ കൈയിൽനിന്ന് എഴുത്തുവാങ്ങി വായിച്ചു. പിന്നെ അദ്ദേഹം യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽ ചെന്ന് യഹോവയുടെ സന്നിധിയിൽവെച്ച് അതു നിവർത്തി.
౧౪హిజ్కియా వార్తాహరుల చేతిలోనుంచి ఆ ఉత్తరం తీసుకుని చదివి, యెహోవా మందిరంలోకి వెళ్లి, యెహోవా సన్నిధిలో దాన్ని విప్పి పరిచి,
15 അതിനുശേഷം ഹിസ്കിയാവ് യഹോവയോടു പ്രാർഥിച്ചു: “ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവേ! കെരൂബുകളുടെ മധ്യേ സിംഹാസനസ്ഥനായുള്ളോവേ! ഭൂതലത്തിലെ സകലരാജ്യങ്ങൾക്കും മേലേ അവിടന്നുമാത്രം ദൈവമാകുന്നു. അവിടന്നു ഭൂമിയെയും ആകാശത്തെയും സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു.
౧౫యెహోవా సన్నిధిలో ప్రార్థన చేస్తూ “యెహోవా, కెరూబుల మధ్య నివాసం ఉన్న ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేవా, భూమినీ ఆకాశాన్ని సృష్టించిన అద్వితీయ దేవా, నీవు లోకంలో ఉన్న అన్ని రాజ్యాలకూ దేవుడవు.
16 യഹോവേ, ചെവിചായ്ച്ചു കേൾക്കണേ! യഹോവേ, തൃക്കൺ തുറന്നു കാണണമേ! ജീവനുള്ള ദൈവത്തെ അധിക്ഷേപിച്ച് സൻഹേരീബ് പറഞ്ഞയച്ച വാക്കുകൾ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കണേ!
౧౬యెహోవా, ఆలకించు. యెహోవా, కళ్ళు తెరచి చూడు. సజీవ దేవుడివైన నిన్ను దూషించడానికి సన్హెరీబు పంపినవాడి మాటలు ఆలకించు.
17 “യഹോവേ, അശ്ശൂർരാജാക്കന്മാർ ഈ രാഷ്ട്രങ്ങളെയും അവയുടെ ഭൂപ്രദേശങ്ങളെയും ശൂന്യമാക്കിക്കളഞ്ഞു എന്നതു നേരുതന്നെ.
౧౭యెహోవా, అష్షూరురాజులు ఆ ప్రజలను, వాళ్ళ దేశాలను పాడు చేసి
18 അവരുടെ ദേവന്മാരെ അവർ തീയിലിട്ടു നശിപ്പിച്ചു. അവ ദേവന്മാരായിരുന്നില്ല; മനുഷ്യകരങ്ങൾ രൂപംകൊടുത്ത കല്ലും മരവുംമാത്രം ആയിരുന്നു.
౧౮వాళ్ళ దేవుళ్ళను అగ్నిలో వేసిన మాట నిజమే. ఆ రాజ్యాల దేవుళ్ళు నిజమైన దేవుళ్ళు కాదు. అవి మనుషుల చేసిన కర్రలు, రాళ్లే. కాబట్టి వారు వాటిని నాశనం చేశారు.
19 ഞങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവേ, അവിടന്നുമാത്രം ദൈവമാകുന്നു എന്ന് ഭൂതലത്തിലെ സകലരാജ്യങ്ങളും അറിയാൻ തക്കവണ്ണം ഇപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കൈയിൽനിന്നു ഞങ്ങളെ വിടുവിക്കണേ!”
౧౯యెహోవా మా దేవా, లోకంలో ఉన్న మనుషులందరూ నువ్వే నిజంగా అద్వితీయ దేవుడవైన యెహోవావని తెలుసుకునేలా అతని చేతిలోనుంచి మమ్మల్ని రక్షించు” అన్నాడు.
20 അതിനുശേഷം ആമോസിന്റെ മകനായ യെശയ്യാവ് ഹിസ്കിയാവിന് ഒരു സന്ദേശം കൊടുത്തയച്ചു: “ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: അശ്ശൂർരാജാവായ സൻഹേരീബിനെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള നിന്റെ പ്രാർഥന ഞാൻ കേട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.
౨౦అప్పుడు ఆమోజు కొడుకు యెషయా హిజ్కియా దగ్గరికి వార్త పంపుతూ “ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేవుడైన యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, అష్షూరురాజు సన్హెరీబు విషయంలో నీవు నా ఎదుట చేసిన ప్రార్థన నేను అంగీకరించాను.
21 അദ്ദേഹത്തിനെതിരേ യഹോവ അരുളിച്ചെയ്ത വാക്കുകൾ ഇവയാണ്: “‘സീയോന്റെ കന്യാപുത്രി, നിന്നെ നിന്ദിക്കുന്നു; നിന്നെ പരിഹസിക്കുന്നു. നീ പലായനം ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ ജെറുശലേംപുത്രി തലയാട്ടിരസിക്കുന്നു.
౨౧అతని గురించి యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, సీయోను కుమారి కన్యక నిన్ను తిరస్కరిస్తున్నది. నిన్ను హేళన చేస్తూ ఉంది. యెరూషలేము కుమారి నిన్ను చూసి తల ఊపుతూ ఉంది.
22 ആരെയാണു നീ പരിഹസിക്കുകയും ദുഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തത്? ആർക്കെതിരേയാണു നീ ശബ്ദമുയർത്തിയത്? നീ അഹന്തയോടെ കണ്ണുയർത്തിയത്? ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ പരിശുദ്ധനെതിരേതന്നെ!
౨౨నీవు ఎవర్ని తిరస్కరించావు? ఎవర్ని దూషించావు? నీవు గర్వించి ఎవర్ని భయపెట్టావు?
23 നിന്റെ ദൂതന്മാർ മുഖാന്തരം നീ യഹോവയെ പരിഹസിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. എന്റെ അസംഖ്യം രഥങ്ങൾകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ പർവതങ്ങളുടെ ശിഖരങ്ങളിൽക്കയറി, ലെബാനോന്റെ പരമോന്നത ശിഖരങ്ങളിൽനിന്ന് അതിലെ ഏറ്റവും പൊക്കമുള്ള ദേവദാരുക്കളും അതിലെ അതിവിശിഷ്ടമായ സരളവൃക്ഷങ്ങളും ഞാൻ വെട്ടിവീഴ്ത്തി. അതിന്റെ ഏറ്റവും വിജനമായ സ്ഥലങ്ങളിലെ നിബിഡ വനാന്തരങ്ങളിലും ഞാൻ കടന്നുചെന്നു.
౨౩ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల పవిత్ర దేవుణ్ణి కాదా? నీ వర్తమానికుల చేత యెహోవాను తిరస్కరించి పలికించిన మాటలు ఇవే గదా. నా రథాల సమూహంతో నేను పర్వత శిఖరాలకూ, లెబానోను కొండల ఎత్తులకూ, ఎక్కాను. ఎత్తుగల దాని దేవదారు వృక్షాలనూ, శ్రేష్ఠమైన సరళ వృక్షాలనూ నరికాను. దూరపు సరిహద్దుల్లో ఉన్న సత్రాల్లోకీ, ఫలాలకు క్షేత్రమైన అడవిలోకీ ప్రవేశించాను.
24 അന്യദേശത്തു ഞാൻ കിണറുകൾ കുഴിച്ച് അതിലെ വെള്ളം കുടിച്ചു. എന്റെ പാദതലങ്ങൾകൊണ്ട് ഈജിപ്റ്റിലെ സകലനീരുറവകളും ഞാൻ വറ്റിച്ചുകളഞ്ഞു.
౨౪నేను బావులు తవ్వి, పరుల నీళ్లు పానం చేశాను. నా అరకాలి కింద నేను ఐగుప్తు నదులన్నిటినీ ఎండిపోజేశాను.
25 “‘വളരെ മുമ്പുതന്നെ ഞാനിതിന് ഉത്തരവിട്ടതാണ്; പഴയകാലത്തുതന്നെ ഞാനിത് ആസൂത്രണം ചെയ്തതാണ് എന്നു നീ കേട്ടിട്ടില്ലേ? കോട്ടകെട്ടി ബലപ്പെടുത്തിയ വൻനഗരങ്ങൾ നീ വെറും കൽക്കൂമ്പാരങ്ങളാക്കാൻ ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ ഇടവരുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു.
౨౫నేనే పూర్వకాలంలోనే దీన్ని కలగచేశాననీ, పురాతన కాలంలోనే దీన్ని నిర్ణయించాననీ నీకు వినబడలేదా? ప్రాకారాలున్న పట్టణాలను నీవు పాడు దిబ్బలుగా చెయ్యడం నావల్లే జరిగింది.
26 അതിലെ നിവാസികൾ ദുർബലരും ഭീതിപൂണ്ട് ലജ്ജിതരുമായിത്തീർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. അവർ വയലിലെ പുല്ലും ഇളംപുൽനാമ്പും പുരപ്പുറത്തെ പുല്ലുംപോലെ വളരുംമുമ്പേ കരിഞ്ഞുപോയിരിക്കുന്നു.
౨౬కాబట్టి వాటి కాపురస్థులు బలహీనులై జడిసి, విభ్రాంతి పొంది, పొలంలో ఉన్న గడ్డిలా, కాడలు లేని చేలలా అయ్యారు.
27 “‘എന്നാൽ നീ എവിടെ അധിവസിക്കുന്നെന്നും നിന്റെ പോക്കും വരവും എപ്പോഴൊക്കെയെന്നും എന്റെനേരേയുള്ള നിന്റെ കോപഗർജനവും ഞാൻ അറിയുന്നു.
౨౭నీవు కూర్చోవడం, బయలుదేరడం, లోపలికి రావడం, నా మీద వేసే రంకెలూ అన్నీ నాకు తెలుసు.
28 നീ എന്റെനേരേ ഉഗ്രകോപം കാട്ടിയിരിക്കയാലും നിന്റെ ഗർവം എന്റെ ചെവിയിൽ എത്തിയിരിക്കയാലും ഞാൻ എന്റെ കൊളുത്ത് നിന്റെ മൂക്കിലും എന്റെ കടിഞ്ഞാൺ നിന്റെ വായിലും ഇട്ട്, നീ വന്നവഴിയേതന്നെ ഞാൻ നിന്നെ മടക്കിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകും.’
౨౮నా మీద నీవు వేసే రంకెలూ, నీవు చేసిన గొడవ నా చెవుల్లో పడింది గనుక నా గాలాన్ని నీ ముక్కుకు తగిలిస్తాను. నా కళ్ళెం నీ నోట్లో పెట్టి నిన్ను మళ్ళిస్తాను. నీవు వచ్చిన దారిలోనే నిన్ను మళ్ళిస్తాను.
29 “ഹിസ്കിയാവേ, ഇത് നിനക്കുള്ള ചിഹ്നമായിരിക്കും: “ഈ വർഷം വയലിൽ തനിയേ മുളയ്ക്കുന്നതു നിങ്ങൾ ഭക്ഷിക്കും. രണ്ടാംവർഷവും അതിൽനിന്നു പൊട്ടിമുളച്ചു വിളയുന്നതു നിങ്ങൾ ഭക്ഷിക്കും, എന്നാൽ മൂന്നാംവർഷമാകട്ടെ, നിങ്ങൾ വിതയ്ക്കുകയും കൊയ്യുകയും മുന്തിരിത്തോപ്പ് നട്ട് അതിന്റെ ഫലം അനുഭവിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും.
౨౯హిజ్కియా, నీకిదే సూచన. ఈ సంవత్సరంలో దానంతట అదే పండే ధాన్యం, రెండో సంవత్సరంలో దాని నుంచి వచ్చే ధాన్యం మీరు తింటారు. మూడో సంవత్సరంలో మీరు విత్తనం విత్తి చేలు కోస్తారు. ద్రాక్షతోటలు నాటి వాటి ఫలం అనుభవిస్తారు.
30 ഒരിക്കൽക്കൂടി യെഹൂദാഗോത്രത്തിന്റെ ഒരു ശേഷിപ്പ് താഴേ വേരൂന്നി മീതേ ഫലം കായ്ക്കും.
౩౦యూదా వంశంలో తప్పించుకొన్న శేషం ఇంకా కిందకు వేరు తన్ని పైకి ఎదిగి ఫలిస్తారు.
31 ജെറുശലേമിൽനിന്ന് ഒരു ശേഷിപ്പും സീയോൻപർവതത്തിൽനിന്ന് ഒരു രക്ഷിതഗണവും പുറപ്പെട്ടുവരും. സർവശക്തനായ യഹോവയുടെ തീക്ഷ്ണത അതു നിർവഹിക്കും.
౩౧ఆ మిగిలిన వారు యెరూషలేములోనుంచి బయలు దేరుతారు. తప్పించుకొన్నవారు సీయోను కొండలోనుంచి బయలు దేరుతారు. సైన్యాలకు అధిపతి అయిన యెహోవా ఆసక్తి దీన్ని నెరవేరుస్తుంది.
32 “‘അതിനാൽ, അശ്ശൂർരാജാവിനെക്കുറിച്ച് യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: “‘അയാൾ ഈ നഗരത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കുകയില്ല; ഇവിടേക്ക് ഒരു അസ്ത്രംപോലും തൊടുക്കുകയില്ല. അയാൾ പരിചയുമായി ഇതിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ വരികയോ ഇതിനെതിരേ സൈന്യത്തെക്കൊണ്ട് ഉപരോധത്തിന്റെ ചരിഞ്ഞ പാത തീർക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുകയില്ല.
౩౨కాబట్టి అష్షూరు రాజు గురించి యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, అతడు ఈ పట్టణంలోకి రాడు. దానిమీద ఒక్క బాణమైనా వెయ్యడు. ఒక్క డాలైనా దానికి చూపించడు. దాని ఎదుట ముట్టడి దిబ్బ కట్టడు.
33 അയാൾ വന്നവഴിയായിത്തന്നെ മടങ്ങിപ്പോകും. അയാൾ ഈ നഗരത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കുകയില്ല. എന്ന് യഹോവ അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു.
౩౩ఈ పట్టణం లోపలికి రాకుండా, తాను వచ్చిన దారిలోనే అతడు తిరిగి వెళ్ళిపోతాడు. ఇదే యెహోవా వాక్కు.
34 എനിക്കുവേണ്ടിയും എന്റെ ദാസനായ ദാവീദിനുവേണ്ടിയും ഞാൻ ഈ നഗരത്തെ പ്രതിരോധിച്ച് ഇതിനെ രക്ഷിക്കും.’”
౩౪నా నిమిత్తమూ, నా సేవకుడైన దావీదు నిమిత్తమూ, నేను ఈ పట్టణాన్ని కాపాడి రక్షిస్తాను.”
35 അന്നുരാത്രി യഹോവയുടെ ദൂതൻ ഇറങ്ങിവന്ന് അശ്ശൂർപാളയത്തിൽ ഒരുലക്ഷത്തി എൺപത്തയ്യായിരം പടയാളികളെ കൊന്നു. പിറ്റേദിവസം രാവിലെ ജനങ്ങൾ ഉണർന്നു നോക്കിയപ്പോൾ അവരെല്ലാം മൃതശരീരങ്ങളായിക്കിടക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടു!
౩౫ఆ రాత్రే యెహోవా దూత బయలుదేరి అష్షూరు వాళ్ళ శిబిరంలోకి వెళ్లి 1, 85,000 మందిని హతం చేశాడు. ఉదయాన ప్రజలు లేచి చూసినప్పుడు వాళ్ళందరూ శవాలై చచ్చి పడి ఉన్నారు.
36 അതിനാൽ അശ്ശൂർരാജാവായ സൻഹേരീബ് പാളയം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു മടങ്ങിപ്പോയി. അദ്ദേഹം നിനവേയിലേക്കു ചെന്ന് അവിടെ താമസിച്ചു.
౩౬అష్షూరురాజు సన్హెరీబు వెనక్కి తిరిగి, నీనెవె పట్టణానికి వెళ్ళిపోయి అక్కడ నివసించాడు.
37 ഒരു ദിവസം അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ ദേവനായ നിസ്‌രോക്കിന്റെ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ ആരാധിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരായ അദ്രമെലെക്കും ശരേസറും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ വാളാൽ വെട്ടിക്കൊന്നു. അതിനുശേഷം അവർ അരാരാത്ത് ദേശത്തേക്ക് ഓടിപ്പോയി. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മറ്റൊരു മകനായ ഏസെർ-ഹദ്ദോൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനുപകരം രാജാവായി.
౩౭అతడు నిస్రోకు అనే తన దేవుడు మందిరంలో మొక్కుతూ ఉన్నప్పుడు, అతని కొడుకులు అద్రమ్మెలెకు, షరెజెరు కత్తితో అతన్ని చంపి అరారాతు దేశంలోకి తప్పించుకు పారిపోయారు. అప్పుడు అతని కొడుకు ఏసర్హద్దోను అతని స్థానంలో రాజయ్యాడు.
