Add parallel Print Page Options

Yosiya Akonzanso Chipembedzo

34 Yosiya anali wa zaka zisanu ndi zitatu pamene anakhala mfumu, ndipo analamulira mu Yerusalemu kwa zaka 31. Iye anachita zolungama pamaso pa Yehova ndi kutsata makhalidwe a Davide abambo ake, osatembenukira kumanja kapena kumanzere.

Mʼchaka chachisanu ndi chitatu cha ulamuliro wake, iye akanalibe wamngʼono, anayamba kufunafuna Mulungu wa Davide abambo ake. Mʼchaka cha khumi ndi chiwiri iye anayamba kuyeretsa Yuda ndi Yerusalemu kuchotsa malo azipembedzo, mafano a Asera, milungu yosema ndi mafano owumbidwa. Maguwa ansembe a Baala anagwetsedwa iye atalamulira. Anadula zidutswazidutswa maguwa ofukizira lubani amene anali pamwamba pake, ndipo anaphwanya mafano a Asera, milungu ndi zifaniziro zake. Anaziperapera ndipo anaziwaza pamwamba pa manda a amene ankapereka nsembe kwa mafanowo. Iye anatentha mafupa a ansembe pa maguwa awo, kotero iye anayeretsa Yuda ndi Yerusalemu. Ku mizinda ya Manase, Efereimu ndi Simeoni mpaka kufika ku Nafutali, ndiponso malo a mabanja owazungulira, iye anagwetsa maguwa ansembe ndi mafano a Asera ndi kuphwanyaphwanya milungu yawo kukhala fumbi ndi kuduladula maguwa ofukizapo lubani mʼdziko lonse la Israeli. Atatero, anabwerera ku Yerusalemu.

Mʼchaka cha 18 cha ulamuliro wa Yosiya, atayeretsa dziko ndi Yerusalemu, Yosiya anatuma Safani mwana wa Azariya ndi Maaseya, wolamulira mzinda pamodzi ndi Yowa mwana wa Yowahazi mlembi wolemba mbiri, kuti akonze Nyumba ya Yehova Mulungu wake.

Iwo anapita kwa Hilikiya, mkulu wa ansembe ndipo anamupatsa ndalama zimene zinaperekedwa mʼNyumba ya Mulungu, zimene Alevi amene anali alonda apakhomo analandira kuchokera kwa anthu a ku Manase, Efereimu ndi onse otsala a ku Israeli ndiponso anthu onse ochokera ku Yuda ndi Benjamini ndi okhala mu Yerusalemu. 10 Ndipo anazipereka mʼmanja mwa anthu amene anasankhidwa kuti ayangʼanire ntchito ya Nyumba ya Yehova. Anthu amenewa ankalipira antchito amene ankakonzanso Nyumba ya Mulungu. 11 Iwo anaperekanso ndalama kwa amisiri a matabwa ndi amisiri omanga nyumba kuti agule miyala yosema ndi matabwa a phaso la nyumba ndi nsichi zomangira zomwe mfumu ya Yuda inalekerera kuti zigwe ndi kuwonongeka.

12 Anthuwa anagwira ntchitoyi mokhulupirika. Amene ankawayangʼanira anali Yahati ndi Obadiya, Alevi ochokera ku banja la Merari, ndi Zekariya ndi Mesulamu ochokera ku banja la Kohati. Alevi onse amene anali aluso loyimbira zida za nyimbo 13 ankayangʼanira anthu onyamula katundu, namatsogolera anthu onse amene ankagwira ntchito iliyonse yotumikira. Alevi ena anali alembi, akapitawo ndiponso alonda apamakomo.

Buku la Malamulo Lipezeka

14 Pa nthawi imene ankatulutsa ndalama zimene anabwera nazo ku Nyumba ya Yehova, wansembe Hilikiya anapeza Buku la Malamulo limene linaperekedwa kudzera mwa Mose. 15 Hilikiya anati kwa Safani, mlembi wa zochitika, “Ine ndapeza Buku la Malamulo mʼNyumba ya Yehova.” Iye analipereka kwa Safani.

16 Ndipo Safani anapita nalo bukulo kwa mfumu ndi kumufotokozera kuti: “Akuluakulu anu akuchita zonse zimene zinapatsidwa kwa iwo. 17 Iwo alipira ndalama zimene zinali mʼNyumba ya Yehova ndipo azipereka kwa akapitawo ndi anthu antchito.” 18 Kenaka Safani, mlembi wa zochitika anawuza mfumu, “Wansembe, Hilikiya wandipatsa ine buku ili.” Ndipo Safani anawerenga bukulo pamaso pa mfumu.

19 Mfumu itamva mawu a Buku la Malamulo, inangʼamba mkanjo wake. 20 Iye analamula izi kwa Hilikiya, Ahikamu mwana wa Safani, Abidoni mwana wa Mika, Safani mlembi wa zochitika ndi Asaya mtumiki wa mfumu: 21 “Pitani ndipo mukafunse Yehova mʼmalo mwanga ndi mʼmalo mwa otsala a Israeli ndi Yuda za zimene zalembedwa mʼbuku limene lapezekali. Mkwiyo wa Yehova ndi waukulu umene watsanulidwa pa ife chifukwa makolo athu sanasunge mawu a Yehova. Iwo sanachite motsatira zonse zimene zalembedwa mʼbuku ili.”

22 Hilikiya pamodzi ndi anthu amene anawatuma aja, anapita kukayankhula ndi mneneri wamkazi Hulida, amene anali mkazi wa Salumu mwana wa Tokati, mwana wa Hasira, wosunga zovala zaufumu. Hulida ankakhala mu Yerusalemu, mʼdera lachiwiri la mzindawo.

23 Iye anati kwa anthuwo, “Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli akuti, muwuzeni munthu amene wakutumani kwa ineyo kuti, 24 ‘Yehova akunena kuti, Ine ndidzabweretsa mavuto pamalo pano ndi pa anthu ake, matemberero onse amene alembedwa mʼbukuli amene awerengedwa pamaso pa mfumu ya Yuda. 25 Chifukwa iwo anasiya Ine ndi kufukiza lubani kwa milungu ina ndi kuwutsa mkwiyo wanga ndi zonse zimene manja awo anapanga, mkwiyo wanga udzatsanulidwa pamalo pano ndipo sudzazimitsidwa.’ 26 Uzani mfumu ya Yuda imene yakutumani kuti mudzafunse kwa Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli, ‘Chimene Yehova, Mulungu wa Israeli akunena mokhudzana ndi mawu amene mwamva ndi ichi: 27 Pakuti mtima wako walapa, ndipo wadzichepetsa wekha pamaso pa Mulungu pamene unamva zimene Iye ananena motsutsa malo ano ndi anthu ake, ndipo chifukwa iwe unadzichepetsa wekha pamaso pa Ine ndi kungʼamba zovala zako ndi kulira pamaso panga, ndamva pemphero lako, atero Yehova. 28 Tsono Ine ndidzakutengera kwa makolo ako, ndipo udzayikidwa mʼmanda mwamtendere. Maso ako sadzaona mavuto onse amene Ine ndidzabweretsa pa malo ano ndi pa iwo amene amakhala pano.’ ”

Choncho iwo anatenga yankho lakelo ndi kubwerera kwa mfumu.

29 Ndipo mfumu inasonkhanitsa pamodzi akuluakulu onse a Yuda ndi Yerusalemu. 30 Iye anapita ku Nyumba ya Yehova pamodzi ndi anthu a Yuda, anthu a mu Yerusalemu, ansembe ndi Alevi, anthu onse kuyambira wamngʼono mpaka wamkulu. Iye anawerenga pamaso pawo mawu onse a Buku la Chipangano, limene linapezeka mʼNyumba ya Yehova. 31 Mfumu inayimirira pa chipilala chake ndipo inachitanso pangano pamaso pa Yehova: kutsatira Yehova, ndi kusunga malamulo ake, machitidwe ake ndi malangizo ake ndi mtima wake wonse ndi moyo wake wonse, ndi kumvera mawu a pangano olembedwa mʼbukulo.

32 Tsono Yosiya anawuza aliyense amene anali mu Yerusalemu ndi Benjamini kuti azisunga panganoli. Anthu a mu Yerusalemu anachita izi motsata pangano la Mulungu, Mulungu wa makolo awo.

33 Yosiya anachotsa mafano onse onyansa mʼdziko lonse limene linali la Aisraeli ndipo anawuza onse amene anali mu Israeli kutumikira Yehova Mulungu wawo. Pa masiku onse a moyo wake, iye sanaleke kutsatira Yehova, Mulungu wa makolo awo.

Josiah’s Reforms(A)(B)(C)

34 Josiah(D) was eight years old when he became king,(E) and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David,(F) not turning aside to the right or to the left.

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God(G) of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles(H) and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.(I) He burned(J) the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder(K) and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.

They went to Hilkiah(L) the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. 11 They also gave money(M) to the carpenters and builders to purchase dressed stone, and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.(N)

12 The workers labored faithfully.(O) Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—(P) 13 had charge of the laborers(Q) and supervised all the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, scribes and gatekeepers.

The Book of the Law Found(R)(S)

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law(T) in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan.

16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the Law,(U) he tore(V) his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan(W), Abdon son of Micah,[a] Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out(X) on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

22 Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him[b] went to speak to the prophet(Y) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,[c] the son of Hasrah,[d] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

23 She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster(Z) on this place and its people(AA)—all the curses(AB) written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me(AC) and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,[e] my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ 26 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 27 Because your heart was responsive(AD) and you humbled(AE) yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Now I will gather you to your ancestors,(AF) and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”(AG)

So they took her answer back to the king.

29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord(AH) with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31 The king stood by his pillar(AI) and renewed the covenant(AJ) in the presence of the Lord—to follow(AK) the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 Josiah removed all the detestable(AL) idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 34:20 Also called Akbor son of Micaiah
  2. 2 Chronicles 34:22 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts do not have had sent with him.
  3. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Tikvah
  4. 2 Chronicles 34:22 Also called Harhas
  5. 2 Chronicles 34:25 Or by everything they have done