2 രാജാക്കന്മാർ 25
1 അതിനാൽ സിദെക്കീയാവിന്റെ ഭരണത്തിന്റെ ഒൻപതാമാണ്ടിൽ പത്താംമാസം പത്താംതീയതി ബാബേൽരാജാവായ നെബൂഖദ്നേസർ തന്റെ സകലസൈന്യവുമായി ജെറുശലേമിനെതിരേ വന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം നഗരത്തിനു വെളിയിൽ പാളയമടിച്ച് ചുറ്റും ഉപരോധം തീർത്തു.
౧సిద్కియా పరిపాలనలో తొమ్మిదో సంవత్సరంలో పదో నెల, పదో రోజు బబులోను రాజు నెబుకద్నెజరు, అతని సైన్యం, యెరూషలేము మీదకి వచ్చి దానికి ఎదురుగా శిబిరాల్లో నివాసం చేసి, దాని చుట్టూ ముట్టడి దిబ్బలు కట్టారు.
2 അങ്ങനെ സിദെക്കീയാരാജാവിന്റെ പതിനൊന്നാമാണ്ടുവരെയും നഗരം ഉപരോധത്തിലായിരുന്നു.
౨ఈ విధంగా సిద్కియా రాజు పరిపాలనలో 11 వ సంవత్సరం వరకూ పట్టణం ముట్టడిలో ఉన్నప్పుడు,
3 നാലാംമാസം ഒൻപതാംതീയതി ആയപ്പോഴേക്കും പട്ടണത്തിലെ ജനങ്ങൾക്കു ഭക്ഷിക്കാൻ യാതൊന്നും ഇല്ലാത്തതരത്തിൽ ക്ഷാമം അതികഠിനമായി.
౩నాలుగో నెల తొమ్మిదో రోజు అదే సంవత్సరం పట్టణంలో ఘోరమైన కరువు వచ్చింది. దేశ ప్రజలకు ఆహారం లేదు.
4 ബാബേല്യർ നഗരം വളഞ്ഞിരിക്കെ, യെഹൂദ്യയിലെ സൈന്യം നഗരമതിൽ ഒരിടം പൊളിച്ചു. രാജാവും മുഴുവൻ സൈന്യവും രാത്രിയിൽത്തന്നെ രാജാവിന്റെ ഉദ്യാനത്തിനരികെ രണ്ടു മതിലുകൾക്കിടയിലുള്ള കവാടത്തിലൂടെ ഓടിപ്പോയി. അവർ അരാബയുടെ നേർക്കാണു പലായനംചെയ്തത്.
౪కల్దీయులు పట్టణ ప్రాకారాన్ని పడగొట్టినప్పుడు, సైనికులు రాత్రిపూట రాజు తోట దగ్గర రెండు గోడల మధ్యలో ఉన్న ద్వారం మార్గంలో పారిపోయారు.
5 എന്നാൽ ബാബേൽസൈന്യം രാജാവിനെ പിൻതുടർന്നുചെന്ന് യെരീഹോസമതലത്തിൽവെച്ച് അദ്ദേഹത്തോടൊപ്പം എത്തി. പടയാളികൾ മുഴുവനും അദ്ദേഹത്തിൽനിന്നു വേർപെട്ട് ചിതറിപ്പോയിരുന്നു.
౫అయితే కల్దీయులు పట్టణం చుట్టూ ఉన్నారు. రాజు మైదానానికి వెళ్ళే మార్గంలో వెళ్లిపోయాడు. కల్దీయుల సైన్యం రాజును తరిమి, అతని సైన్యం అతనికి దూరంగా చెదరిపోయిన కారణంగా యెరికో మైదానంలో అతన్ని పట్టుకున్నారు.
6 അങ്ങനെ അദ്ദേഹം പിടിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. അദ്ദേഹത്തെ രിബ്ലയിൽ ബാബേൽരാജാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ കൊണ്ടുവന്നു. അവിടെവെച്ച് അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു ശിക്ഷ വിധിച്ചു.
౬వారు రాజును పట్టుకుని రిబ్లా పట్టణంలో ఉన్న బబులోను రాజు దగ్గరికి తీసుకుపోయారు. రాజు అతనికి శిక్ష విధించాడు.
7 അവർ സിദെക്കീയാവിന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കൺമുമ്പിൽവെച്ചു കൊന്നു. അതിനുശേഷം അവർ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കണ്ണുകൾ കുത്തിപ്പൊട്ടിച്ചു. അദ്ദേഹത്തെ വെങ്കലംകൊണ്ടുള്ള ചങ്ങലയിൽ ബന്ധിച്ച് ബാബേലിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౭సిద్కియా చూస్తూ ఉండగానే వారు అతని కొడుకులను చంపి, సిద్కియా కళ్ళు పీకి, ఇత్తడి సంకెళ్లతో అతన్ని బంధించి బబులోను పట్టణానికి తీసుకుపోయారు.
8 ബാബേൽരാജാവായ നെബൂഖദ്നേസരിന്റെ പത്തൊൻപതാം ആണ്ട്, അഞ്ചാംമാസം ഏഴാംതീയതി ബാബേൽരാജാവിന്റെ അംഗരക്ഷകസേനയുടെ അധിപതിയായ നെബൂസരദാൻ ജെറുശലേമിലേക്കു വന്നു.
౮ఇంకా బబులోను రాజు నెబుకద్నెజరు పరిపాలనలో 19 వ సంవత్సరంలో ఐదో నెల ఏడో రోజున రాజ దేహసంరక్షకుల అధిపతీ, బబులోనురాజు సేవకుడూ అయిన నెబూజరదాను యెరూషలేముకు వచ్చి
9 അദ്ദേഹം യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിനും രാജകൊട്ടാരത്തിനും ജെറുശലേമിലെ സകലവീടുകൾക്കും തീവെച്ചു. പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട സകലകെട്ടിടങ്ങളും അദ്ദേഹം ചുട്ടുകളഞ്ഞു.
౯యెహోవా మందిరాన్నీ, రాజనగరునూ, యెరూషలేములో ఉన్న ఇళ్ళన్నీ, గొప్పవాళ్ళ ఇళ్ళన్నీ అగ్నితో తగల బెట్టించాడు.
10 അംഗരക്ഷകസേനയുടെ അധിപതിയായ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ കീഴിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ബാബേൽസൈന്യമെല്ലാംചേർന്ന് ജെറുശലേമിന്റെ ചുറ്റുമതിൽ ഇടിച്ചുനിരത്തി.
౧౦ఇంకా నెబూజరదాను దగ్గరున్న కల్దీయుల సైనికులందరూ యెరూషలేము చుట్టూ ఉన్న ప్రాకారాలు పడగొట్టారు.
11 നഗരവാസികളിൽ ശേഷിച്ചവരെയും ബാബേൽരാജാവിന്റെ പക്ഷത്തേക്കു കൂറുമാറിയവരെയും ശേഷം ജനത മുഴുവനെയും അംഗരക്ഷകസേനയുടെ നായകനായ നെബൂസരദാൻ പ്രവാസികളാക്കി കൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౧౧పట్టణంలో మిగిలి ఉన్న వాళ్ళనూ, బబులోనురాజు పక్షం చేరిన వాళ్ళనూ, సామాన్య ప్రజల్లో మిగిలిన వాళ్ళనూ నెబూజరదాను బందీలుగా తీసుకెళ్ళాడు గాని,
12 എന്നാൽ സൈന്യാധിപൻ മുന്തിരിത്തോപ്പുകളിലും വയലുകളിലും പണിചെയ്യുന്നതിനായി, ദേശത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ദരിദ്രരിൽ ചിലരെ വിട്ടിട്ടുപോയി.
౧౨పొలాల్లో, ద్రాక్షతోటల్లో పనిచెయ్యడానికి అందరికన్నా పేదవాళ్లను అక్కడే ఉంచాడు.
13 യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന വെങ്കലസ്തംഭങ്ങളും ചലിപ്പിക്കാവുന്ന പീഠങ്ങളും വെങ്കലംകൊണ്ടുള്ള വലിയ ജലസംഭരണിയും ബാബേല്യർ ഉടച്ചുകളഞ്ഞു. അതിന്റെ വെങ്കലം അവർ ബാബേലിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౧౩ఇంకా యెహోవా మందిరంలో ఉన్న ఇత్తడి స్తంభాలను, పీటలను, యెహోవా మందిరంలో ఉన్న ఇత్తడి సరస్సును, కల్దీయులు ముక్కలుగా కొట్టి, ఆ ఇత్తడిని బబులోను పట్టణానికి తీసుకెళ్ళిపోయారు.
14 ദൈവാലയശുശ്രൂഷയ്ക്ക് ഉപയോഗിച്ചിരുന്ന കലങ്ങളും കോരികളും തിരികൾ വെടിപ്പാക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള കത്രികകളും തളികകളും മറ്റെല്ലാ ഓട്ടുപകരണങ്ങളും അവർ കൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౧౪సేవ కోసం ఉంచిన పాత్రలు, పారలు, గరిటెలు, దీపాలు ఆర్పే వస్తువులు, ఇతర ఇత్తడి ఉపకారణాలన్నీ వారు తీసుకుపోయారు.
15 ധൂപകലശങ്ങളും കോരിത്തളിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള കുഴിയൻപാത്രങ്ങളും സ്വർണവും വെള്ളിയുംകൊണ്ടുള്ള പാത്രങ്ങളും എന്നുവേണ്ടാ തങ്കംകൊണ്ടോ വെള്ളികൊണ്ടോ ഉണ്ടാക്കിയവയെല്ലാം അംഗരക്ഷകസേനയുടെ അധിപൻ എടുത്തുകൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౧౫అగ్నిపాత్రలు, గిన్నెలు, మొదలైన వెండి వస్తువులనూ, బంగారు వస్తువులనూ నెబూజరదాను తీసుకెళ్ళిపోయారు.
16 യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിനുവേണ്ടി ശലോമോൻ ഉണ്ടാക്കിയിരുന്ന രണ്ടുസ്തംഭങ്ങളുടെയും ജലസംഭരണിയുടെയും ചലിപ്പിക്കാവുന്ന പീഠങ്ങളുടെയും വെങ്കലം തൂക്കം തിട്ടപ്പെടുത്താൻ കഴിയാത്തതുപോലെ അത്ര അധികമായിരുന്നു.
౧౬ఇంకా అతడు యెహోవా మందిరానికి సొలొమోను చేయించిన రెండు స్తంభాలనూ, సముద్రాన్నీ, పీటలనూ తీసుకెళ్లిపోయాడు. ఈ ఇత్తడి వస్తువుల ఎత్తు లెక్కకు మించి ఉంది.
17 ഓരോ സ്തംഭവും പതിനെട്ടുമുഴം ഉയരമുള്ളതായിരുന്നു, ഒരു വെങ്കലസ്തംഭത്തിന്റെ തലയ്ക്കലുള്ള മകുടം മൂന്നുമുഴം ഉയരമുള്ളതും ചുറ്റും വെങ്കലംകൊണ്ടുള്ള വലമണികളും മാതളനാരകപ്പഴങ്ങളുംകൊണ്ട് അലങ്കൃതവും ആയിരുന്നു. വലമണികളോടുകൂടിയ മറ്റേ സ്തംഭവും ഇതുപോലെതന്നെ ആയിരുന്നു.
౧౭ఒక్కొక స్తంభం ఎత్తు 18 మూరలు. దాని పైపీట ఇత్తడిది, పైపీట ఎత్తు మూడు మూరలు. ఇంకా ఆ పైపీట చుట్టూ ఉన్న అల్లికలూ, దానిమ్మ పళ్ళూ ఇత్తడివి. రెండో స్తంభం కూడా మొదటి దాని లాంటిదే.
18 മഹാപുരോഹിതനായ സെരായാവെയും തൊട്ടടുത്ത പദവിയിലുള്ള പുരോഹിതനായ സെഫന്യാവിനെയും മൂന്നു വാതിൽകാവൽക്കാരെയും അംഗരക്ഷകസേനയുടെ നായകൻ തടവുകാരായി പിടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౧౮నెబూజరదాను ప్రధానయాజకుడు శెరాయానూ, రెండో యాజకుడు జెఫన్యానూ, ముగ్గురు ద్వార పాలకులనూ పట్టుకున్నాడు.
19 നഗരത്തിൽ അപ്പോഴും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നവരിൽനിന്നു യോദ്ധാക്കളുടെ മേൽവിചാരകനെയും രാജാവിന്റെ ഉപദേശകന്മാരായ അഞ്ചുപേരെയുംകൂടെ അദ്ദേഹം പിടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോയി. ദേശത്തെ ജനങ്ങളെക്കൊണ്ട് നിർബന്ധിതസൈനികസേവനം ചെയ്യിക്കുന്നതിന്റെ മുഖ്യചുമതലക്കാരനായ ലേഖകനെയും നഗരത്തിൽ കാണപ്പെട്ട അറുപതു സൈനികരെയുംകൂടെ പിടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോയി.
౧౯ఇంకా, సైన్యం మీద అధికారిగా ఉన్న వాణ్ణి, పట్టణంలో ఇంకా ఉంటూ రాజుకు సలహాలు ఇచ్చే ఐదుగురినీ, అతడు పట్టుకున్నాడు. రాజు అధికారుల్లో సైన్యాన్ని నియమించే అధికారినీ, ఆ పట్టణంలో ఉన్న ప్రముఖులైన 60 మందినీ బందీలుగా పట్టుకున్నాడు.
20 സൈന്യാധിപനായ നെബൂസരദാൻ അവരെയെല്ലാം പിടിച്ച് രിബ്ലയിൽ ബാബേൽരാജാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ കൊണ്ടുവന്നു.
౨౦నెబూజరదాను వీళ్ళను రిబ్లా పట్టణంలో ఉన్న బబులోను రాజు దగ్గరికి తెచ్చాడు.
21 അവിടെ, ഹമാത്തുദേശത്തിലെ രിബ്ലയിൽവെച്ച് ബാബേൽരാജാവ് അവരുടെയെല്ലാം വധശിക്ഷ നടപ്പിലാക്കി. അങ്ങനെ യെഹൂദാ, തന്റെ ദേശത്തുനിന്നും അടിമത്തത്തിലേക്കു പോയി.
౨౧బబులోను రాజు హమాతు దేశంలో ఉన్న రిబ్లా పట్టణంలో వాళ్ళను చంపించాడు. ఈ విధంగా శత్రువులు యూదా వాళ్ళను వారి దేశంలోనుంచి తీసుకెళ్ళిపోయారు.
22 ബാബേൽരാജാവായ നെബൂഖദ്നേസർ, താൻ യെഹൂദ്യയിൽ അവശേഷിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുപോരുന്ന ആളുകൾക്ക് അധിപതിയായി ശാഫാന്റെ പൗത്രനായ അഹീക്കാമിന്റെ മകനായ ഗെദല്യാവിനെ നിയമിച്ചു.
౨౨బబులోను రాజు నెబుకద్నెజరు యూదాదేశంలో ఉండనిచ్చిన వాళ్ళమీద అతడు షాఫానుకు పుట్టిన అహీకాము కొడుకు గెదల్యాను అధిపతిగా నిర్ణయించాడు.
23 ബാബേൽരാജാവ് ഗെദല്യാവിനെ ദേശാധിപതിയായി നിയമിച്ചു എന്ന് എല്ലാ സൈന്യാധിപന്മാരും അവരുടെ ആളുകളും കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, അവർ മിസ്പായിൽ ഗെദല്യാവിന്റെ അടുക്കലെത്തി. നെഥന്യാവിന്റെ മകൻ യിശ്മായേലും കാരേഹിന്റെ മകൻ യോഹാനാനും നെതോഫാത്യനായ തൻഹൂമെത്തിന്റെ മകൻ സെരായാവും മാഖാത്യന്റെ മകൻ യയസന്യാവും അവരുടെ ആളുകളും അക്കൂട്ടത്തിലുണ്ടായിരുന്നു.
౨౩యూదావాళ్ళ సైన్యాధిపతులందరూ, వాళ్ళ ప్రజలందరూ బబులోనురాజు గెదల్యాను అధిపతిగా నియమించిన సంగతి విన్నారు. మిస్పా పట్టణంలో ఉన్న గెదల్యా దగ్గరికి నెతన్యా కొడుకు ఇష్మాయేలు, కారేహ కొడుకు యోహానాను, నెటోపాతీయుడు తన్హుమెతు కొడుకు శెరాయా, ఒక మాయకాతీయునికి పుట్టిన యజన్యా అందరూ కలిసి వచ్చారు.
24 അപ്പോൾ ഗെദല്യാവ് അവരോടും അവരുടെ ആളുകളോടും ഇപ്രകാരം ഒരു ശപഥംചെയ്തുപറഞ്ഞു: “നിങ്ങൾ ബാബേലിലെ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർനിമിത്തം ഭയപ്പെടരുത്; നിങ്ങൾക്കു നന്മയുണ്ടാകേണ്ടതിന് ദേശത്തു താമസിച്ചു ബാബേൽരാജാവിനെ സേവിക്കുക.”
౨౪గెదల్యా వాళ్ళతో, వాళ్ళ ప్రజలతో ప్రమాణం చేసి “కల్దీయులకు మనం దాసులం అయ్యామని భయపడొద్దు. దేశంలో నివాసం ఉండి, బబులోను రాజును మీరు సేవిస్తే, మీకు మేలు కలుగుతుంది” అని చెప్పాడు.
25 എങ്കിലും ഏഴാംമാസത്തിൽ രാജവംശക്കാരനായ എലീശാമയുടെ പൗത്രനായ നെഥന്യാവിന്റെ മകൻ യിശ്മായേൽ പത്തു പുരുഷന്മാരുമായി വന്ന് ഗെദല്യാവിനെയും മിസ്പായിൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തോടുകൂടെയുണ്ടായിരുന്ന യെഹൂദ്യരും ബാബേൽക്കാരുമായ ആളുകളെയും ചതിവിൽ കൊലപ്പെടുത്തി.
౨౫అయితే ఏడో నెలలో రాజ కుటుంబానికి చెందిన ఎలీషామాకు పుట్టిన నెతన్యా కొడుకు ఇష్మాయేలు పదిమంది మనుషులను పిలుచుకొచ్చి గెదల్యా మీద దాడి చేసినప్పుడు అతడు చనిపోయాడు. ఇంకా మిస్పాలో అతని దగ్గరున్న యూదులనూ, కల్దీయులనూ, అతడు హతం చేశాడు.
26 ഇതുമൂലം യെഹൂദ്യയിലെ ജനമെല്ലാം; ആബാലവൃദ്ധം സകലജനങ്ങളും സൈന്യാധിപന്മാരോടൊപ്പം ബാബേൽക്കാരെ ഭയപ്പെട്ട് ഈജിപ്റ്റിലേക്ക് ഓടിപ്പോയി.
౨౬అప్పుడు చిన్నవాళ్ళూ, గొప్పవాళ్ళూ, ప్రజలందరూ, సైన్యాధిపతులూ లేచి కల్దీయుల భయం చేత ఐగుప్తు దేశానికి పారిపోయారు.
27 യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ യെഹോയാഖീന്റെ പ്രവാസത്തിന്റെ മുപ്പത്തിയേഴാമാണ്ടിൽ എവീൽ-മെരോദക്ക് ബാബേൽരാജാവായി. ആ വർഷം പന്ത്രണ്ടാംമാസം ഇരുപത്തിയേഴാംതീയതി അദ്ദേഹം യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ യെഹോയാഖീനെ കാരാഗൃഹത്തിൽനിന്നു മോചിപ്പിച്ചു.
౨౭యూదారాజు యెహోయాకీను బందీగా ఉన్న 37 వ సంవత్సరంలో 12 వ నెల 27 వ రోజున బబులోను రాజు ఎవీల్మెరోదకు తాను పరిపాలన ఆరంభించిన సంవత్సరంలో, చెరసాలలో నుంచి యూదా రాజు యెహోయాకీనును బయటకు తెప్పించాడు.
28 അദ്ദേഹം യെഹോയാഖീനോട് ദയാപൂർവം സംസാരിക്കുകയും തന്നോടുകൂടെ ബാബേലിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന മറ്റു രാജാക്കന്മാരെക്കാൾ കൂടുതൽ ബഹുമാന്യമായ ഒരു ഇരിപ്പിടം അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു നൽകുകയും ചെയ്തു.
౨౮అతనితో దయగా మాట్లాడి, అతని పీఠాన్ని బబులోనులో తన దగ్గరున్న రాజుల పీఠాలకన్నా ఎత్తు చేశాడు.
29 അങ്ങനെ യെഹോയാഖീൻ തന്റെ കാരാഗൃഹവേഷം മാറ്റിക്കളയുകയും തന്റെ ആയുസ്സിന്റെ ശേഷിച്ചകാലം രാജാവിന്റെ മേശയിൽനിന്നു പതിവായി ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തുപോന്നു.
౨౯అతడు తన చెరసాల బట్టలు తీసేసి వేరే వస్త్రాలు వేసుకుని తాను బ్రతికిన రోజులన్నీ రాజు బల్ల మీద రాజుతో భోజనం చేస్తూ వచ్చాడు.
30 യെഹോയാഖീൻ ജീവിച്ചിരുന്ന കാലംമുഴുവൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജീവിതാവശ്യങ്ങൾക്കുവേണ്ട പണം ദിനംതോറും ക്രമമായി രാജാവു കൊടുത്തുപോന്നു.
౩౦ఇంకా అతడు బ్రతికినంత కాలం, క్రమం తప్పకుండా అతని భోజన భత్యం అతనికి అందుతూ ఉంది.
