ഉല്പത്തി 48
1 കുറെ കാലത്തിനുശേഷം, “അങ്ങയുടെ പിതാവു രോഗിയായിരിക്കുന്നു” എന്ന് യോസേഫിന് അറിയിപ്പു കിട്ടി. അദ്ദേഹം മനശ്ശെ, എഫ്രയീം എന്നീ രണ്ടു പുത്രന്മാരെയും കൂട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുചെന്നു.
౧ఈ సంగతులైన తరువాత “ఇదిగో, మీ నాన్నకు ఒంట్లో బాగాలేదు” అని ఒకడు యోసేపుతో చెప్పాడు. అప్పుడతడు మనష్షే, ఎఫ్రాయిము అనే తన ఇద్దరు కొడుకులను వెంటబెట్టుకుని వెళ్ళాడు.
2 “അങ്ങയുടെ പുത്രനായ യോസേഫ് അങ്ങയുടെ അടുക്കൽ വന്നിരിക്കുന്നു,” എന്ന് യാക്കോബിനെ അറിയിച്ചപ്പോൾ ഇസ്രായേൽ തനിക്കുള്ള ശക്തി സമാഹരിച്ചു കട്ടിലിൽ എഴുന്നേറ്റിരുന്നു.
౨“ఇదిగో నీ కొడుకు యోసేపు నీ దగ్గరికి వస్తున్నాడు” అని యాకోబుకు తెలిసింది. అప్పుడు ఇశ్రాయేలు బలం తెచ్చుకుని తన మంచం మీద కూర్చున్నాడు.
3 യാക്കോബ് യോസേഫിനോടു പറഞ്ഞു, “സർവശക്തനായ ദൈവം കനാൻദേശത്തെ ലൂസിൽവെച്ച് എനിക്കു പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി എന്നെ അവിടെവെച്ച് അനുഗ്രഹിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് എന്നോട്:
౩అతడు యోసేపుతో “కనాను దేశంలో ఉన్న లూజులో సర్వశక్తిగల దేవుడు నాకు కనబడి నన్ను ఆశీర్వదించి
4 ‘ഞാൻ നിന്നെ സന്താനപുഷ്ടിയുള്ളവനാക്കുകയും നിന്റെ സംഖ്യ വർധിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും; ഞാൻ നിന്നെ ഒരു ജനസമൂഹമാക്കുകയും നിനക്കുശേഷം ഈ ദേശം നിന്റെ പിൻഗാമികൾക്കു ശാശ്വതാവകാശമായി നൽകുകയും ചെയ്യും’ എന്ന് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു.
౪‘ఇదిగో నిన్ను ఫలవంతంగా చేసి, విస్తరింపజేస్తాను. నువ్వు జన సమూహమయ్యేలా చేస్తాను. నీ వారసులకు ఈ దేశాన్ని నిత్య స్వాస్థ్యంగా ఇస్తాను’ అన్నాడు.
5 “ഞാൻ ഇവിടെ നിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ എത്തുന്നതിനുമുമ്പ് നിനക്ക് ഈജിപ്റ്റിൽവെച്ചു ജനിച്ചവരായ നിന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരെ രണ്ടുപേരെയും എനിക്കുള്ളവരായി കണക്കാക്കും; രൂബേനും ശിമെയോനും എനിക്കുള്ളവർ ആയിരിക്കുന്നതുപോലെതന്നെ എഫ്രയീമും മനശ്ശെയും എനിക്കുള്ളവരായിരിക്കുന്നതാണ്.
౫నేను ఐగుప్తుకు నీ దగ్గరికి రాకముందు ఐగుప్తు దేశంలో నీకు పుట్టిన నీ ఇద్దరు కొడుకులు నా బిడ్డలే. రూబేను షిమ్యోనుల్లాగే ఎఫ్రాయిము, మనష్షే నా కొడుకులే.
6 അവർക്കുശേഷം നിനക്കു ജനിച്ച കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങൾ നിനക്കുള്ളവരായിരിക്കും; അവർ അവകാശമാക്കുന്ന ദേശത്ത് തങ്ങളുടെ സഹോദരന്മാരുടെ പേരുകളോടുചേർത്ത് അവരെ കണക്കാക്കും.
౬వారి తరువాత నీకు పుట్టిన సంతానం నీదే. వారి పేర్లు వారి సోదరుల స్వాస్థ్యం జాబితాల ప్రకారం నమోదు అవుతాయి.
7 ഞാൻ പദ്ദനിൽനിന്നു മടങ്ങുമ്പോൾ, കനാനിൽനിന്നു ഞങ്ങൾ യാത്ര തുടർന്നുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കെത്തന്നെ, എഫ്രാത്തിൽനിന്ന് അൽപ്പം അകലെ വഴിയിൽവെച്ച്, റാഹേൽ മരിച്ചു. ഞാൻ അവളെ എഫ്രാത്തിലേക്കുള്ള വഴിയുടെ അരികെ (അതായത്, ബേത്ലഹേമിൽ) അടക്കംചെയ്തു.”
౭పద్దనరాము నుండి నేను వస్తున్నపుడు, ఎఫ్రాతాకు ఇంకా కొంత దూరాన ఉన్నపుడు ప్రయాణంలో రాహేలు కనాను దేశంలో చనిపోయింది. అక్కడ బేత్లెహేము అనే ఎఫ్రాతా దారిలో నేను ఆమెను పాతిపెట్టాను” అని యాకోబు చెప్పాడు.
8 യോസേഫിന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരെ കണ്ടിട്ട് ഇസ്രായേൽ, “ഇവർ ആരാകുന്നു?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു.
౮ఇశ్రాయేలు, యోసేపు కొడుకులను చూసి “వీరెవరు?” అని అడిగాడు.
9 “ദൈവം എനിക്ക് ഇവിടെവെച്ചു നൽകിയ പുത്രന്മാരാണ് ഇവർ,” യോസേഫ് പിതാവിനോടു പറഞ്ഞു. അപ്പോൾ ഇസ്രായേൽ, “അവരെ എന്റെ അടുക്കൽ കൊണ്ടുവരിക. ഞാൻ അവരെ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౯యోసేపు “వీళ్ళు నా కొడుకులు. వీరిని ఈ దేశంలో దేవుడు నాకిచ్చాడు” అని తన తండ్రితో చెప్పాడు. అందుకతడు “నేను వారిని దీవించడానికి నా దగ్గరికి వారిని తీసుకు రా” అన్నాడు.
10 വാർധക്യംനിമിത്തം ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ കാഴ്ച ക്ഷയിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു; അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു കാഴ്ച തീരെയില്ലാതായി. അതുകൊണ്ട് യോസേഫ് തന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ തൊട്ടടുത്തു കൊണ്ടുവന്നു; അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പിതാവ് അവരെ ചുംബിക്കുകയും ആലിംഗനംചെയ്യുകയും ചെയ്തു.
౧౦ఇశ్రాయేలు కళ్ళు వృద్ధాప్యం వలన మసకబారి చూడలేక పోయాడు. కాబట్టి, యోసేపు వారిని అతని దగ్గరికి తీసుకు వచ్చాడు. అతడు వారిని ముద్దు పెట్టుకుని కౌగిలించుకున్నాడు.
11 ഇസ്രായേൽ യോസേഫിനോട്, “നിന്റെ മുഖം വീണ്ടും കാണുമെന്നു ഞാൻ ഒരിക്കലും പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ചില്ല; ഇപ്പോൾ ഇതാ, നിന്റെ മക്കളെയും കാണാൻ ദൈവം എന്നെ അനുവദിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౧ఇశ్రాయేలు యోసేపుతో “నీ ముఖాన్ని మళ్ళీ చూస్తానని నేను అనుకోలేదు. అయితే, నీ సంతానాన్ని కూడా దేవుడు నన్ను చూడనిచ్చాడు” అన్నాడు.
12 പിന്നെ യോസേഫ് അവരെ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മടിയിൽനിന്ന് നീക്കി സാഷ്ടാംഗം നമസ്കരിച്ചു.
౧౨యోసేపు అతని మోకాళ్ళ మధ్య నుండి వారిని తీసుకు అతనికి సాగిలపడ్డాడు.
13 യോസേഫ് അവരെ ഇരുവരെയും പിടിച്ച്, എഫ്രയീമിനെ തന്റെ വലത്തുവശത്താക്കി ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ ഇടത്തുകൈയുടെ നേർക്കും മനശ്ശെയെ തന്റെ ഇടത്തുവശത്താക്കി ഇസ്രായേലിന്റെ വലത്തുകൈയുടെ നേർക്കുമായി അദ്ദേഹത്തോടു ചേർത്തുനിർത്തി.
౧౩తరువాత యోసేపు ఇశ్రాయేలు ఎడమచేతి వైపు తన కుడిచేత ఎఫ్రాయిమును, ఇశ్రాయేలు కుడిచేతి వైపు తన ఎడమ చేత మనష్షేను పట్టుకుని, వారిద్దరిని అతని సమీపంగా తీసుకు వచ్చాడు.
14 എഫ്രയീം ഇളയവനും മനശ്ശെ ആദ്യജാതനും ആയിരുന്നെങ്കിലും ഇസ്രായേൽ തന്റെ കൈകൾ പിണച്ച് വലങ്കൈ എഫ്രയീമിന്റെ തലയിലും ഇടങ്കൈ മനശ്ശെയുടെ തലയിലും വെച്ചു.
౧౪ఇశ్రాయేలు, చిన్నవాడైన ఎఫ్రాయిము తల మీద తన కుడిచేతిని, మనష్షే తలమీద తన ఎడమచేతిని ఉంచాడు.
15 ഇതിനുശേഷം അദ്ദേഹം യോസേഫിനെ അനുഗ്രഹിച്ചു പറഞ്ഞു, “എന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാരായ അബ്രാഹാമും യിസ്ഹാക്കും ആരാധിച്ചുപോന്ന ദൈവം, ജനിച്ചനാൾമുതൽ ഇന്നുവരെയും എന്നെ കാത്തു പരിപാലിച്ച ദൈവം,
౧౫ఇశ్రాయేలు యోసేపును దీవించి “నా పూర్వీకులు అబ్రాహాము ఇస్సాకులు ఎవరి సమక్షంలో నడుచుకున్నారో ఆ దేవుడు, ఇప్పటి వరకూ నన్ను పోషించిన ఆ దేవుడు,
16 സർവദോഷത്തിൽനിന്നും എന്നെ വിടുവിച്ച ദൂതൻ ഈ ബാലന്മാരെ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കുമാറാകട്ടെ. ഇവർ എന്റെ പേരിലും എന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാരായ അബ്രാഹാമിന്റെയും യിസ്ഹാക്കിന്റെയും പേരിലും അറിയപ്പെടട്ടെ, ഇവർ ഭൂമുഖത്ത് അത്യധികമായി വർധിച്ചുവരട്ടെ.”
౧౬సమస్త కీడుల నుంచి నన్ను కాపాడిన దూత, ఈ పిల్లలను దీవించు గాక. నా పేరు, అబ్రాహాము ఇస్సాకులనే నా పితరుల పేరు వారికి కలుగు గాక. లోకంలో వారు విస్తార జనసమూహంగా అవుతారు గాక” అన్నాడు.
17 പിതാവു തന്റെ വലങ്കൈ എഫ്രയീമിന്റെ തലയിൽ വെക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടിട്ടു യോസേഫിന് അപ്രീതിയുണ്ടായി; അതുകൊണ്ട് അദ്ദേഹം പിതാവിന്റെ കൈ എഫ്രയീമിന്റെ തലയിൽനിന്നു മനശ്ശെയുടെ തലയിലേക്കു മാറ്റിവെക്കാൻ ആ കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ചു.
౧౭యోసేపు ఎఫ్రాయిము తల మీద తన తండ్రి కుడిచెయ్యి పెట్టడం చూశాడు. అది అతనికి నచ్చలేదు. అతడు మనష్షే తల మీద పెట్టించాలని తన తండ్రి చెయ్యి, ఎఫ్రాయిము తలమీద నుండి ఎత్తి,
18 യോസേഫ് അദ്ദേഹത്തോട്, “അങ്ങനെയല്ല, അപ്പാ, ഇവനാണ് ആദ്യജാതൻ; വലങ്കൈ ഇവന്റെ തലയിൽ വെക്കണം” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౮“నాన్నా, అలా కాదు. ఇతడే పెద్దవాడు. నీ కుడి చెయ్యి ఇతని తలమీద పెట్టు” అని చెప్పాడు.
19 എന്നാൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പിതാവ് അതു നിരസിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്, “എനിക്കറിയാം, മകനേ, എനിക്കറിയാം. അവനും വലിയൊരു ജനമായിത്തീരും, ഇവനും മഹാനായിത്തീരും. എങ്കിലും അവന്റെ അനുജൻ അവനെക്കാൾ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനാകും, അവന്റെ പിൻഗാമികൾ ജനതകളുടെ ഒരു സമൂഹമായിത്തീരും” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౧౯అతని తండ్రి ఒప్పుకోక “నాకు తెలుసు. కచ్చితంగా తెలుసు. ఇతడు కూడా ఒక జన సమూహమై గొప్పవాడవుతాడు. అయితే, ఇతని తమ్ముడు ఇతని కంటే గొప్పవాడవుతాడు. అతని సంతానం జన సమూహాలు అవుతారు” అన్నాడు.
20 അന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം അവരെ അനുഗ്രഹിച്ചുകൊണ്ടു പറഞ്ഞു: “ദൈവം നിന്നെ എഫ്രയീമിനെയും മനശ്ശെയെയുംപോലെ ആക്കട്ടെ എന്ന് ഇസ്രായേല്യർ നിന്റെ നാമത്തിൽ ആശീർവാദം ചൊല്ലും.” ഇങ്ങനെ അദ്ദേഹം എഫ്രയീമിനെ മനശ്ശെക്കു മുന്നിലാക്കി.
౨౦ఆ రోజు అతడు వారిని ఇలా దీవించాడు. “ఇశ్రాయేలీయులు ఎవరినైనా దీవించేటపుడు, ‘ఎఫ్రాయిములాగా మనష్షేలాగా దేవుడు మిమ్మల్ని చేస్తాడు గాక’ అని మీ పేరెత్తి దీవిస్తారు” అని చెప్పి మనష్షే కంటే ఎఫ్రాయిమును ముందుగా ఉంచాడు.
21 തുടർന്ന് ഇസ്രായേൽ യോസേഫിനോട്, “ഞാൻ മരിക്കാറായിരിക്കുന്നു, എന്നാൽ ദൈവം നിങ്ങളോടുകൂടെയിരിക്കുകയും നിങ്ങളെ നിങ്ങളുടെ പിതാക്കന്മാരുടെ ദേശത്തേക്കു മടക്കിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകുകയും ചെയ്യും.
౨౧ఇశ్రాయేలు “ఇదిగో నేను చనిపోతున్నాను, అయినా దేవుడు మీకు తోడై ఉండి మీ పూర్వీకుల దేశానికి మిమ్మల్ని తిరిగి రప్పిస్తాడు.
22 നിന്റെ സഹോദരന്മാരെക്കാൾ കൂടുതലായി, എന്റെ വാളും വില്ലുംകൊണ്ടു ഞാൻ അമോര്യരിൽനിന്ന് പിടിച്ചെടുത്ത മലഞ്ചെരിവു ഞാൻ നിനക്കു തരുന്നു” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
౨౨నేను నీ సోదరులకంటే నీకు ఒక భాగం ఎక్కువ ఇచ్చాను. దాన్ని, నా కత్తితో నా వింటితో, అమోరీయుల చేతిలో నుండి తీసుకున్నాను” అని యోసేపుతో చెప్పాడు.
