రాజులు~ రెండవ~ గ్రంథము 19
1 ౧ వాళ్ళ నివేదిక హిజ్కియా విన్నప్పుడు, తన బట్టలు చింపుకుని గోనెపట్ట కట్టుకుని యెహోవా మందిరానికి వెళ్ళాడు.
ഹിസ്കീയാരാജാവു അതു കേട്ടപ്പോൾ വസ്ത്രം കീറി രട്ടുടുത്തുകൊണ്ടു യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽ ചെന്നു.
2 ౨ గృహ నిర్వాహకుడైన ఎల్యాకీమునూ, శాస్త్రి షెబ్నానూ, యాజకుల్లో పెద్దలనూ, ప్రవక్త అయిన ఆమోజు కొడుకు యెషయా దగ్గరికి పంపాడు.
പിന്നെ അവൻ രാജധാനിവിചാരകനായ എല്യാക്കീമിനെയും രായസക്കാരനായ ശെബ്നയെയും പുരോഹിതന്മാരുടെ മൂപ്പന്മാരെയും രട്ടുടുത്തവരായി ആമോസിന്റെ മകനായ യെശയ്യാപ്രവാചകന്റെ അടുക്കൽ അയച്ചു.
3 ౩ వీళ్ళు గోనెపట్ట కట్టుకుని అతని దగ్గరికి వచ్చి అతనితో “హిజ్కియా చెప్పేదేమంటే, ఇది కష్టం, శిక్ష, దూషణల దినం. పిల్లలు పుట్టే సమయం వచ్చింది, కాని కనడానికి శక్తి లేదు.
അവർ അവനോടു പറഞ്ഞതു: ഹിസ്കീയാവു ഇപ്രകാരം പറയുന്നു: ഇതു കഷ്ടവും ശാസനയും നിന്ദയും ഉള്ള ദിവസം അത്രേ; കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങൾ ജനിപ്പാറായിരിക്കുന്നു; പ്രസവിപ്പാനോ ശക്തിയില്ല.
4 ౪ జీవం 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.”
ജീവനുള്ള ദൈവത്തെ നിന്ദിപ്പാൻ റബ്-ശാക്കേയെ അവന്റെ യജമാനനായ അശ്ശൂർരാജാവു അയച്ചു പറയിക്കുന്ന വാക്കു ഒക്കെയും നിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ പക്ഷെ കേൾക്കും; നിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ കേട്ട വാക്കിന്നു പ്രതികാരം ചെയ്യും; ആകയാൽ ഇനിയും ശേഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നവർക്കു വേണ്ടി പക്ഷവാദം കഴിക്കേണമേ.
ഹിസ്കീയാരാജാവിന്റെ ഭൃത്യന്മാർ യെശയ്യാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ വന്നപ്പോൾ യെശയ്യാവു അവരോടു പറഞ്ഞതു:
6 ౬ యెషయా వాళ్ళతో “మీ యజమానికి ఈ మాట తెలియజేయండి. యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, అష్షూరురాజు పనివారు నన్ను దూషిస్తూ పలికిన ఆ మాటలు నీవు విని భయపడొద్దు.
നിങ്ങൾ നിങ്ങളുടെ യജമാനനോടു പറയേണ്ടതെന്തെന്നാൽ: യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: അശ്ശൂർരാജാവിന്റെ ഭൃത്യന്മാർ എന്നെ നിന്ദിച്ചതായി നീ കേട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന വാക്കുകൾനിമിത്തം ഭയപ്പെടേണ്ടാ.
7 ౭ అతనిలో ఒక ఆత్మను నేను పుట్టిస్తాను. అతడు అ వదంతి విని తన దేశానికి వెళ్ళిపోతాడు. అతని దేశంలో అతన్ని కత్తితో చంపుతారు” అన్నాడు.
ഞാൻ അവന്നു ഒരു മനോവിഭ്രമം വരുത്തും; അവൻ ഒരു ശ്രുതി കേട്ടിട്ടു സ്വദേശത്തേക്കു മടങ്ങിപ്പോകും; ഞാൻ അവനെ അവന്റെ സ്വന്തദേശത്തുവെച്ചു വാൾകൊണ്ടു വീഴുമാറാക്കും.
8 ౮ అష్షూరురాజు లాకీషు పట్టణాన్ని విడిచి వెళ్లి లిబ్నా మీద యుద్ధం చేస్తూ ఉన్నప్పుడు, రబ్షాకే వెళ్లి అతన్ని కలుసుకున్నాడు.
റബ്-ശാക്കേ മടങ്ങിച്ചെന്നു അശ്ശൂർരാജാവു ലിബ്നയുടെ നേരെ യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യുന്നതു കണ്ടു; അവൻ ലാഖീശ് വിട്ടുപോയി എന്നു അവൻ കേട്ടിരുന്നു.
9 ౯ అప్పుడు, కూషురాజు తిర్హాకా తన మీద యుద్ధం చెయ్యడానికి వచ్చాడని అష్షూరు రాజు విన్నాడు. అతడు ఇంకొకసారి హిజ్కియా దగ్గరికి వార్తాహరులను పంపాడు.
കൂശ്‌രാജാവായ തിർഹാക്ക തന്റെ നേരെ യുദ്ധം ചെയ്‌വാൻ പുറപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു എന്നു കേട്ടിട്ടു അവൻ പിന്നെയും ഹിസ്കീയാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ ദൂതന്മാരെ അയച്ചു പറയിച്ചതെന്തെന്നാൽ:
10 ౧౦ “యూదారాజు హిజ్కియాతో ఈ విధంగా చెప్పండి. యెరూషలేము అష్షూరురాజు చేతికి చిక్కదు అని చెప్పి నీవు నమ్ముకొన్న నీ దేవుడి వల్ల మోసపోవద్దు.
നിങ്ങൾ യെഹൂദാരാജാവായ ഹിസ്കീയാവോടു പറയേണ്ടതു: യെരൂശലേം അശ്ശൂർരാജാവിന്റെ കയ്യിൽ ഏല്പിച്ചുകളകയില്ല എന്നു നീ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്ന നിന്റെ ദൈവം നിന്നെ ചതിക്കരുതു.
11 ౧౧ చూడు, అష్షూరు రాజులు అన్ని దేశాలను పూర్తిగా నాశనం చేసిన సంగతి నీకు వినబడింది గదా, నీవు మాత్రం తప్పించుకోగలవా?
അശ്ശൂർരാജാക്കന്മാർ സകലദേശങ്ങളോടും ചെയ്തതും അവെക്കു ഉന്മൂലനാശം വരുത്തിയതും നീ കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടല്ലോ; നീ ഒഴിഞ്ഞുപോകുമോ?
12 ౧౨ నా పూర్వికులు నాశనం చేసిన గోజాను, హారాను, రెజెపు ప్రజలు గానీ, తెలశ్శారులో ఉన్న ఏదెనీయులు గానీ, తమ దేవుళ్ళ సాయం వల్ల తప్పించుకున్నారా?
ഗോസാൻ, ഹാരാൻ, രേസെഫ്, തെലസ്സാരിലെ എദേന്യർ എന്നിങ്ങനെ എന്റെ പിതാക്കന്മാർ നശിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ജാതികളുടെ ദേവന്മാർ അവരെ വിടുവിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ?
13 ౧౩ హమాతు రాజు ఏమయ్యాడు? అర్పాదు, సెపర్వియీము, హేన, ఇవ్వా అనే పట్టణాల రాజులు ఏమయ్యారు?” అని వార్త పంపాడు.
ഹമാത്ത്‌ രാജാവും അർപ്പാദ്‌ രാജാവും സെഫർവ്വയീംപട്ടണം ഹേന ഇവ്വ എന്നവെക്കു രാജാവായിരുന്നവനും എവിടെ?
14 ౧౪ హిజ్కియా వార్తాహరుల చేతిలోనుంచి ఆ ఉత్తరం తీసుకుని చదివి, యెహోవా మందిరంలోకి వెళ్లి, యెహోవా సన్నిధిలో దాన్ని విప్పి పరిచి,
ഹിസ്കീയാവു ദൂതന്മാരുടെ കയ്യിൽനിന്നു എഴുത്തു വാങ്ങി വായിച്ചു: ഹിസ്കീയാവു യഹോവയുടെ ആലയത്തിൽ ചെന്നു യഹോവയുടെ സന്നിധിയിൽ അതു വിടർത്തു.
15 ౧౫ యెహోవా సన్నిధిలో ప్రార్థన చేస్తూ “యెహోవా, కెరూబుల మధ్య నివాసం ఉన్న ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేవా, భూమినీ ఆకాశాన్ని సృష్టించిన అద్వితీయ దేవా, నీవు లోకంలో ఉన్న అన్ని రాజ్యాలకూ దేవుడవు.
ഹിസ്കീയാവു യഹോവയുടെ മുമ്പാകെ പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചുപറഞ്ഞതു എന്തെന്നാൽ: കെരൂബുകൾക്കുമീതെ അധിവസിക്കുന്ന യിസ്രായേലിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവേ, നീ ഒരുത്തൻ മാത്രം ഭൂമിയിലെ സകലരാജ്യങ്ങൾക്കും ദൈവം ആകുന്നു; നീ ആകാശത്തെയും ഭൂമിയെയും ഉണ്ടാക്കി.
16 ౧౬ యెహోవా, ఆలకించు. యెహోవా, కళ్ళు తెరచి చూడు. సజీవ దేవుడివైన నిన్ను దూషించడానికి సన్హెరీబు పంపినవాడి మాటలు ఆలకించు.
യഹോവേ, ചെവിചായിച്ചു കേൾക്കേണമേ; യഹോവേ, തൃക്കണ്ണുതുറന്നു നോക്കേണമേ; ജീവനുള്ള ദൈവത്തെ നിന്ദിപ്പാൻ അയച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന സൻഹേരീബിന്റെ വാക്കു കേൾക്കേണമേ.
യഹോവേ, അശ്ശൂർരാജാക്കന്മാർ ആ ജാതികളെയും അവരുടെ ദേശത്തെയും ശൂന്യമാക്കിയതു സത്യം തന്നേ.
18 ౧౮ వాళ్ళ దేవుళ్ళను అగ్నిలో వేసిన మాట నిజమే. ఆ రాజ్యాల దేవుళ్ళు నిజమైన దేవుళ్ళు కాదు. అవి మనుషుల చేసిన కర్రలు, రాళ్లే. కాబట్టి వారు వాటిని నాశనం చేశారు.
അവരുടെ ദേവന്മാരെ അവർ തീയിലിട്ടു ചുട്ടുകളഞ്ഞു; അവ ദേവന്മാരല്ല, മനുഷ്യരുടെ കൈപ്പണിയായ മരവും കല്ലും മാത്രം ആയിരുന്നുവല്ലോ; ആകയാൽ അവർ അവയെ നശിപ്പിച്ചുകളഞ്ഞു.
19 ౧౯ యెహోవా మా దేవా, లోకంలో ఉన్న మనుషులందరూ నువ్వే నిజంగా అద్వితీయ దేవుడవైన యెహోవావని తెలుసుకునేలా అతని చేతిలోనుంచి మమ్మల్ని రక్షించు” అన్నాడు.
ഇപ്പോഴോ ഞങ്ങളുടെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവേ, നീ ഒരുത്തൻ മാത്രം യഹോവയായ ദൈവം എന്നു ഭൂമിയിലെ സകലരാജ്യങ്ങളും അറിയേണ്ടതിന്നു ഞങ്ങളെ അവന്റെ കയ്യിൽനിന്നു രക്ഷിക്കേണമേ.
20 ౨౦ అప్పుడు ఆమోజు కొడుకు యెషయా హిజ్కియా దగ్గరికి వార్త పంపుతూ “ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల దేవుడైన యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, అష్షూరురాజు సన్హెరీబు విషయంలో నీవు నా ఎదుట చేసిన ప్రార్థన నేను అంగీకరించాను.
ആമോസിന്റെ മകനായ യെശയ്യാവു ഹിസ്കീയാവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ പറഞ്ഞയച്ചതു എന്തെന്നാൽ: യിസ്രായേലിന്റെ ദൈവമായ യഹോവ ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: നീ അശ്ശൂർരാജാവായ സൻഹേരീബിൻനിമിത്തം എന്നോടു പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചതു ഞാൻ കേട്ടു.
21 ౨౧ అతని గురించి యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, సీయోను కుమారి కన్యక నిన్ను తిరస్కరిస్తున్నది. నిన్ను హేళన చేస్తూ ఉంది. యెరూషలేము కుమారి నిన్ను చూసి తల ఊపుతూ ఉంది.
അവനെക്കുറിച്ചു യഹോവ അരുളിച്ചെയ്ത വചനമാവിതു: സീയോൻപുത്രിയായ കന്യക നിന്നെ നിന്ദിച്ചു പരിഹസിക്കുന്നു; യെരൂശലേംപുത്രി നിന്റെ പിന്നാലെ തല കുലുക്കുന്നു.
നീ ആരെയാകുന്നു നിന്ദിച്ചു ദുഷിച്ചതു? ആർക്കു വിരോധമായിട്ടാകുന്നു നീ ഒച്ച പൊക്കുകയും തല ഉന്നതമായി ഉയർത്തുകയും ചെയ്തതു? യിസ്രായേലിന്റെ പരിശുദ്ധന്നു വിരോധമായിട്ടു തന്നേയല്ലോ.
23 ౨౩ ఇశ్రాయేలీయుల 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.
നിന്റെ ദൂതന്മാർമുഖാന്തരം നീ കർത്താവിനെ നിന്ദിച്ചു: എന്റെ അസംഖ്യരഥങ്ങളോടുകൂടെ ഞാൻ മലമുകളിലും ലെബാനോന്റെ ശിഖരങ്ങളിലും കയറിയിരിക്കുന്നു; അതിലെ പൊക്കമുള്ള ദേവദാരുക്കളും വിശേഷമായ സരളവൃക്ഷങ്ങളും ഞാൻ മുറിക്കും; അതിന്റെ അറ്റത്തെ പാർപ്പിടംവരെയും ചെഴിപ്പുള്ള കാടുവരെയും ഞാൻ കടന്നുചെല്ലും.
24 ౨౪ నేను బావులు తవ్వి, పరుల నీళ్లు పానం చేశాను. నా అరకాలి కింద నేను ఐగుప్తు నదులన్నిటినీ ఎండిపోజేశాను.
ഞാൻ അന്യജലം കുഴിച്ചെടുത്തു കുടിക്കും. എന്റെ കാലടികളാൽ മിസ്രയീമിലെ സകലനദികളെയും വറ്റിക്കും എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു.
25 ౨౫ నేనే పూర్వకాలంలోనే దీన్ని కలగచేశాననీ, పురాతన కాలంలోనే దీన్ని నిర్ణయించాననీ నీకు వినబడలేదా? ప్రాకారాలున్న పట్టణాలను నీవు పాడు దిబ్బలుగా చెయ్యడం నావల్లే జరిగింది.
ഞാൻ പണ്ടുപണ്ടേ അതിനെ ഉണ്ടാക്കി, പൂർവ്വകാലത്തു തന്നേ അതിനെ നിർമ്മിച്ചു എന്നു നീ കേട്ടിട്ടില്ലയോ? നീ ഉറപ്പുള്ള പട്ടണങ്ങളെ ശൂന്യക്കൂമ്പാരങ്ങളാക്കുവാൻ ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോൾ സംഗതി വരുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു.
26 ౨౬ కాబట్టి వాటి కాపురస్థులు బలహీనులై జడిసి, విభ్రాంతి పొంది, పొలంలో ఉన్న గడ్డిలా, కాడలు లేని చేలలా అయ్యారు.
അതുകൊണ്ടു അവയിലെ നിവാസികൾ ദുർബ്ബലന്മാരായി വിരണ്ടു അമ്പരന്നുപോയി; അവർ വയലിലെ പുല്ലും പച്ചച്ചെടിയും പുരപ്പുറങ്ങളിലെ പുല്ലും വളരുമ്മുമ്പെ കരിഞ്ഞുപോയ ധാന്യവുംപോലെ ആയ്തീർന്നു.
എന്നാൽ നിന്റെ ഇരിപ്പും നിന്റെ ഗമനവും ആഗമനവും എന്റെ നേരെയുള്ള നിന്റെ കോപഭ്രാന്തും ഞാൻ അറിയുന്നു.
28 ౨౮ నా 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.
എന്റെ നേരെയുള്ള നിന്റെ കോപഭ്രാന്തുകൊണ്ടും നിന്റെ അഹങ്കാരം എന്റെ ചെവിയിൽ എത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നതുകൊണ്ടും ഞാൻ എന്റെ കൊളുത്തു നിന്റെ മൂക്കിലും എന്റെ കടിഞ്ഞാൺ നിന്റെ അധരങ്ങളിലും ഇട്ടു, നീ വന്ന വഴിക്കു നിന്നെ മടക്കിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകും.
29 ౨౯ హిజ్కియా, 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.
എന്നാൽ ഇതു നിനക്കു അടയാളം ആകും; നിങ്ങൾ ഈ ആണ്ടിൽ പടുവിത്തു വിളയുന്നതും രണ്ടാം ആണ്ടിൽ താനേ കിളുർത്തു വിളയുന്നതും തിന്നും; മൂന്നാം ആണ്ടിൽ നിങ്ങൾ വിതെച്ചു കൊയ്യുകയും മുന്തിരിത്തോട്ടം ഉണ്ടാക്കി അവയുടെ പഴം തിന്നുകയും ചെയ്യും.
യെഹൂദാഗൃഹത്തിൽ ശേഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു രക്ഷിതഗണം വീണ്ടും താഴെ വേരൂന്നി മീതെ ഫലം കായിക്കും.
31 ౩౧ ఆ మిగిలిన వారు యెరూషలేములోనుంచి బయలు దేరుతారు. తప్పించుకొన్నవారు సీయోను కొండలోనుంచి బయలు దేరుతారు. సైన్యాలకు అధిపతి అయిన యెహోవా ఆసక్తి దీన్ని నెరవేరుస్తుంది.
ഒരു ശേഷിപ്പു യെരൂശലേമിൽനിന്നും ഒരു രക്ഷിതഗണം സീയോൻപർവ്വതത്തിൽനിന്നും പുറപ്പെട്ടുവരും; യഹോവയുടെ തീക്ഷ്ണത അതിനെ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കും.
32 ౩౨ కాబట్టి అష్షూరు రాజు గురించి యెహోవా చెప్పేదేమంటే, అతడు ఈ పట్టణంలోకి రాడు. దానిమీద ఒక్క బాణమైనా వెయ్యడు. ఒక్క డాలైనా దానికి చూపించడు. దాని ఎదుట ముట్టడి దిబ్బ కట్టడు.
അതുകൊണ്ടു യഹോവ അശ്ശൂർരാജാവിനെക്കുറിച്ചു ഇപ്രകാരം അരുളിച്ചെയ്യുന്നു: അവൻ ഈ നഗരത്തിലേക്കു വരികയില്ല; ഒരു അമ്പു അവിടെ എയ്കയില്ല. അതിന്റെ നേരെ പരിചയോടുകൂടെ വരികയില്ല; അതിന്നു എതിരെ വാടകോരുകയുമില്ല.
അവൻ വന്ന വഴിക്കു തന്നേ മടങ്ങിപ്പോകും; ഈ നഗരത്തിലേക്കു വരികയില്ല.
എന്റെ നിമിത്തവും എന്റെ ദാസനായ ദാവീദിന്റെ നിമിത്തവും ഞാൻ ഈ നഗരത്തെ പാലിച്ചു രക്ഷിക്കും എന്നു യഹോവയുടെ അരുളപ്പാടു.
35 ౩౫ ఆ రాత్రే యెహోవా దూత బయలుదేరి అష్షూరు వాళ్ళ శిబిరంలోకి వెళ్లి 1, 85,000 మందిని హతం చేశాడు. ఉదయాన ప్రజలు లేచి చూసినప్పుడు వాళ్ళందరూ శవాలై చచ్చి పడి ఉన్నారు.
അന്നു രാത്രി യഹോവയുടെ ദൂതൻ പുറപ്പെട്ടു അശ്ശൂർപാളയത്തിൽ ഒരു ലക്ഷത്തെണ്പത്തയ്യായിരംപേരെ കൊന്നു; ജനം രാവിലെ എഴുന്നേറ്റപ്പോൾ അവർ എല്ലാവരും ശവങ്ങളായി കിടക്കുന്നതു കണ്ടു.
അങ്ങനെ അശ്ശൂർരാജാവായ സൻഹേരീബ് യാത്ര പുറപ്പെട്ടു മടങ്ങിപ്പോയി നീനെവേയിൽ പാർത്തു.
37 ౩౭ అతడు 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.
അവൻ തന്റെ ദേവനായ നിസ്രോക്കിന്റെ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്ന സമയത്തു അവന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരായ അദ്രമേലെക്കും ശരേസെരും അവനെ വാൾകൊണ്ടു കൊന്നിട്ടു അരാരാത്ത് ദേശത്തേക്കു ഓടിപ്പൊയ്ക്കളഞ്ഞു. അവന്റെ മകനായ ഏസെർ-ഹദ്ദോൻ അവന്നു പകരം രാജാവായ്തീർന്നു.
