Beginning

Senakeribu Aopseza Yerusalemu

32 Zitatha zonse zimene Hezekiya anachita mokhulupirika, Senakeribu mfumu ya ku Asiriya anabwera ndi kuthira nkhondo dziko la Yuda. Iye anazinga mizinda yotetezedwa ya Yuda, kuganiza kuti ayigonjetsa. ² Pamene Hezekiya anaona kuti Senakeribu wabwera ndipo wakonzeka kuchita nkhondo ndi Yerusalemu, ³ iye anakambirana ndi akuluakulu ake pamodzi ndi atsogoleri a gulu lankhondo za kutseka akasupe ochoka ku kasupe amene anali kunja kwa mzinda, ndipo iwo anamuthandiza. ⁴ Gulu lalikulu la anthu linasonkhana, ndipo anatseka akasupe onse pamodzi ndi mtsinje umene umayenda mʼkati mwa nthakamo. Iwo ankanena kuti, “Nʼchifukwa chiyani mafumu a Asiriya akabwera kuno adzapeze madzi ambiri?” ⁵ Kenaka iye anagwira ntchito molimbika kukonza madera ogumuka a khoma ndi kumangapo msanja. Anamanganso mpanda wina kunja kwa mpanda winawo ndipo anamanga zolimbitsa Milo ku mzinda wa Davide.

⁶ Iye anasankha atsogoleri a ankhondo olamulira anthu ndipo anawasonkhanitsa pamaso pake pa bwalo la chipata cha mzinda ndi kuwalimbikitsa ndi mawu awa: ⁷ “Khalani amphamvu ndi olimba mtima. Musachite mantha kapena kutaya mtima chifukwa cha mfumu ya ku Asiriya ndi gulu lalikulu lankhondo limene ali nalo, pakuti ife tili ndi mphamvu yayikulu kuposa imene ili ndi iye. ⁸ Iye ali ndi mphamvu ya anthu basi, koma ife tili ndi Yehova Mulungu wathu kutithandiza ndi kuchita nkhondo zathu.” Ndipo anthu anapeza chilimbikitso kuchokera pa zimene Hezekiya mfumu ya Yuda ananena.

⁹ Nthawi ina, pamene Senakeribu mfumu ya ku Asiriya ndi gulu lake lonse lankhondo anali atazinga Lakisi, iye anatumiza atsogoleri ake ankhondo ku Yerusalemu ndi uthenga uwu kwa Hezekiya mfumu ya Yuda ndi anthu onse a ku Yuda amene anali kumeneko:

¹⁰ “Senakeribu mfumu ya ku Asiriya akuti: Kodi inu mukukhulupirira chiyani, kuti mukukhalabe mu Yerusalemu mutazingidwa? ¹¹ Pamene Hezekiya akunena kuti ‘Yehova Mulungu wathu adzatipulumutsa kuchoka mʼdzanja la mfumu ya ku Asiriya,’ iye akukusocheretsani, kuti mufe ndi njala ndi ludzu. ¹² Kodi si Hezekiya amene anachotsa malo opembedzerapo Mulungu ameneyu ndi maguwa ansembe ndi kunena kwa anthu a ku Yuda ndi Yerusalemu kuti, ‘Muzipembedza pa guwa lansembe limodzi ndi kupserezapo nsembe?’

¹³ “Kodi inu simukudziwa zimene ine ndi makolo anga tachita kwa anthu a mitundu ina? Kodi milungu ya mitundu imeneyi inatha kupulumutsa dziko lawo kuchoka mʼdzanja langa? ¹⁴ Kodi ndi milungu iti mwa milungu ya mitundu ina ya anthuwo, imene makolo anga anayiwononga kotheratu, inatha kupulumutsa anthu ake mʼdzanja langa? Nanga tsono Mulungu wanuyo adzakupulumutsani mʼdzanja langa motani? ¹⁵ Choncho inu musalole kuti Hezekiya akunamizeni ndi kukusocheretsani motere. Musamukhulupirire, pakuti palibe mulungu wa mtundu wina uliwonse kapena ufumu wina uliwonse umene unatha kupulumutsa anthu ake kuchoka mʼdzanja langa kapena mʼdzanja la makolo anga. Nanga bwanji Mulungu wanuyo, sadzatha kukupulumutsani kuchoka mʼdzanja langa!”

¹⁶ Atsogoleri a ankhondo a Senakeribu anapitiriza kuyankhula zotsutsana ndi Yehova Mulungu ndi mtumiki wake Hezekiya. ¹⁷ Mfumunso inalemba makalata onyoza Yehova, Mulungu wa Israeli, ndipo inanena zotsutsana naye izi: “Monga momwe milungu ya anthu a mayiko ena sinathe kuwapulumutsa kuchoka mʼdzanja langa, chonchonso Mulungu wa Hezekiya sadzapulumutsa anthu ake kuchoka mʼdzanja langa.” ¹⁸ Kenaka iwo anafuwula mu Chihebri kwa anthu a mu Yerusalemu amene anali pa khoma, kuwaopseza ndi kuwachititsa mantha ndi cholinga choti alande mzindawo. ¹⁹ Iwo anayankhula za Mulungu wa Yerusalemu monga anayankhulira za milungu ya anthu ena a pa dziko lapansi, ntchito ya manja a anthu.

²⁰ Mfumu Hezekiya ndi mneneri Yesaya mwana wa Amozi anafuwulira kumwamba mʼpemphero chifukwa cha zimenezi. ²¹ Ndipo Yehova anatumiza mngelo amene anadzapha anthu onse odziwa nkhondo ndi atsogoleri ndiponso oyangʼanira misasa ya mfumu ya ku Asiriya. Choncho Senakeribu anabwerera kwawo wamanyazi. Ndipo atalowa mʼnyumba ya mulungu wake, ena mwa ana ake anamupha ndi lupanga.

²² Kotero Yehova anapulumutsa Hezekiya ndi anthu a ku Yerusalemu kuchoka mʼdzanja la Senakeribu mfumu ya ku Asiriya ndi mʼdzanja la anthu ena. Yehova anawateteza ku mbali zonse. ²³ Anthu ambiri anabweretsa zopereka kwa Yehova ku Yerusalemu ndi mphatso zamtengowapatali kwa Hezekiya mfumu ya Yuda. Kuyambira nthawi imeneyo Hezekiya ankalemekezedwa kwambiri ndi mitundu ina yonse.

Kunyada, Kupambana ndi Imfa ya Hezekiya

²⁴ Pa nthawi imeneyo Hezekiya anadwala ndipo anali pafupi kufa. Iye anapemphera kwa Yehova, amene anamuyankha ndi kumupatsa chizindikiro chodabwitsa. ²⁵ Koma Hezekiya anali ndi mtima wonyada ndipo sanachite molingana ndi kukoma mtima kumene Mulungu anamuonetsera. Choncho mkwiyo wa Yehova unali pa iye ndi pa Yuda ndi Yerusalemu. ²⁶ Koma kenaka Hezekiya analapa za kunyada kwakeko, monga anachitanso anthu a mu Yerusalemu. Choncho mkwiyo wa Yehova sunafike pa iwo pa nthawi ya Hezekiya.

²⁷ Hezekiya anali ndi chuma ndi ulemu wambiri ndipo anamanga nyumba zosungiramo chuma cha siliva wake ndi golide ndi za miyala yokongola, zokometsera zakudya, zishango ndi mtundu uliwonse wa zinthu zamtengowapatali. ²⁸ Iye anamanganso nyumba zosungiramo tirigu, vinyo watsopano ndi mafuta a olivi, ndiponso anamanga nyumba zodyeramo ngʼombe zosiyanasiyana, ndi makola a nkhosa. ²⁹ Iyeyo anamanga midzi ndipo anali ndi nkhosa ndi ngʼombe zambiri, pakuti Mulungu anamupatsa chuma chambiri.

³⁰ Ndi Hezekiya amene anatseka ku mtunda kwa kasupe wa Gihoni, ndi kumuwongolera kuti madzi ake apite mbali ya kumadzulo kwa Mzinda wa Davide. Iye ankachita bwino pa ntchito iliyonse imene ankagwira. ³¹ Koma pamene nthumwi zotumizidwa ndi atsogoleri a ku Babuloni zinabwera kudzamufunsa za chizindikiro chozizwitsa chimene chinachitika mʼdzikomo, Mulungu anamusiya yekha, kumuyesa kuti adziwe zonse zimene zinali mu mtima mwake.

³² Zina ndi zina zokhudza ulamuliro wa Hezekiya ndi ntchito za kudzipereka kwake zalembedwa mʼmasomphenya a Yesaya mwana wa Amozi, mʼbuku la mafumu a Yuda ndi Israeli. ³³ Hezekiya anamwalira ndipo anayikidwa mʼmanda pa phiri pamene pali manda a zidzukulu za Davide. Ayuda onse ndi anthu a mu Yerusalemu anamulemekeza atamwalira. Ndipo Manase mwana wake analowa ufumu mʼmalo mwake.

Manase Mfumu ya Yuda

33 Manase anali wa zaka khumi ndi ziwiri pamene anakhala mfumu, ndipo analamulira mu Yerusalemu kwa zaka 55. ² Iye anachita zoyipa pamaso pa Yehova, potsatira machitidwe a mitundu imene Yehova anayithamangitsa pamaso pa Aisraeli. ³ Iyeyo anamanganso malo opembedzerapo mafano amene Hezekiya abambo ake anawaphwasula; anamanganso maguwa ansembe a Baala ndi kupanga mafano a Asera. Iye amagwadira zolengedwa zonse zamlengalenga ndi kumazipembedza. ⁴ Manase anamanga maguwa mʼNyumba ya Yehova, mʼmene Yehova ananena kuti, “Ine ndidzakhala mu Yerusalemu mpaka muyaya.” ⁵ Mʼmabwalo onse awiri a Nyumba ya Yehova anamangamo maguwa ansembe a zolengedwa zonse zamlengalenga. ⁶ Iye ankakapereka ana ake aamuna ngati nsembe yopsereza ku chigwa cha Hinomu, ankachita zamatsenga, kuwombeza ndi ufiti, ankakafunsira kwa woyankhula ndi mizimu ya anthu akufa. Iye anachita zoyipa zambiri pamaso pa Yehova, kumukwiyitsa Iyeyo.

⁷ Manase anatenga fano losema limene anapanga ndi kuliyika mʼNyumba ya Mulungu, zimene Mulungu ananena kwa Davide ndi kwa mwana wake Solomoni kuti, “Mʼnyumba ya Mulungu muno, mu Yerusalemu muno, malo amene ndawasankha pakati pa mafuko onse a Israeli, ndidzakhalamo mpaka muyaya. ⁸ Ine sindidzachotsanso phazi la Aisraeli kuchoka mʼdziko limene ndawapatsa makolo ako, ngatitu iwowa adzasamalira kuchita chilichonse chimene ndinawalamulira za malamulo onse, malangizo ndi miyambo imene inapatsidwa kudzera mwa Mose.” ⁹ Koma Manase anasocheretsa anthu a ku Yuda ndi Yerusalemu, kotero anachita zoyipa zambiri kupambana mitundu imene Yehova anayiwononga pamaso pa Aisraeli.

¹⁰ Yehova anayankhula kwa Manase ndi anthu ake, koma iwo sanasamaleko. ¹¹ Kotero Yehova anawatumizira atsogoleri a ankhondo a ku Asiriya amene anagwira Manase ukapolo, anayika ngowe mʼmphuno mwake, namumanga ndi zingwe zamkuwa ndi kupita naye ku Babuloni. ¹² Ali pa mavuto akewo anafunafuna kuti Yehova Mulungu wake amukomere mtima ndipo anadzichepetsa kwakukulu pamaso pa Mulungu wa makolo ake. ¹³ Ndipo atapemphera, Yehova anakhudzidwa ndi kupempha kwakeko ndipo anamvera madandawulo ake. Kotero anamubweretsanso ku Yerusalemu ndi ku ufumu wake. Ndipo Manase anadziwa kuti Yehova ndi Mulungu.

¹⁴ Zitapita izi iye anamanga khoma la kunja kwa Mzinda wa Davide kumadzulo kwa kasupe wa Gihoni ku chigwa mpaka polowera ku Chipata cha Nsomba kuzungulira phiri la Ofeli. Iyeyo anakweza kwambiri khomalo. Anayikanso atsogoleri a nkhondo ku mizinda yonse yotetezedwa ya Yuda.

¹⁵ Iye anachotsa milungu yonse yachilendo ndi fano mʼNyumba ya Yehova komanso maguwa ansembe onse amene anamanga pa phiri la Nyumba ya Mulungu ndi mu Yerusalemu, nazitayira kunja kwa mzinda. ¹⁶ Kenaka anabwezeretsa guwa lansembe la Yehova ndi kupereka zopereka zachiyanjano ndiponso zopereka zamatamando ndipo anawuza Yuda kuti atumikire Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli. ¹⁷ Komabe anthu anapitiriza kupereka nsembe ku malo achipembedzo, koma kwa Yehova, Mulungu wawo yekha.

¹⁸ Zina ndi zina zokhudza ulamuliro wa Manase, kuphatikiza mapemphero ake kwa Mulungu wake ndi mawu amene alosi anayankhula kwa iye mʼdzina la Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli, zalembedwa mʼmabuku a mafumu a Israeli. ¹⁹ Pemphero lake ndi momwe Mulungu anakhudzidwira ndi kupempha kwakeko, pamodzinso ndi machimo ake onse ndi kusakhulupirika kwake, ndiponso malo onse amene anamanga, malo azipembedzo ndi mafano a Asera ndi mafano asanadzichepetse, zonse zalembedwa mʼmbiri ya alosi. ²⁰ Manase anamwalira ndipo anayikidwa mʼmanda mʼnyumba yake yaufumu. Ndipo Amoni mwana wake analowa ufumu mʼmalo mwake.

Amoni Mfumu ya Yuda

²¹ Amoni anali wa zaka 22 pamene anakhala mfumu ndipo analamulira mu Yerusalemu kwa zaka ziwiri. ²² Iye anachita zoyipa pamaso pa Yehova, monga anachitira Manase abambo ake. Amoni analambira ndi kupereka nsembe kwa mafano onse amene anapanga Manase. ²³ Koma kusiyana ndi abambo ake Manase, iye sanadzichepetse pamaso pa Yehova. Amoni anawonjeza kulakwa kwake.

²⁴ Akuluakulu a Amoni anamuchita chiwembu ndipo anamupha mʼnyumba yake yaufumu. ²⁵ Koma anthu a mʼdzikomo anapha onse amene anakonzera chiwembu mfumu Amoni, ndipo anayika mwana wake Yosiya kukhala mfumu mʼmalo mwake.

Yosiya Akonzanso Chipembedzo

34 Yosiya anali wa zaka zisanu ndi zitatu pamene anakhala mfumu, ndipo analamulira mu Yerusalemu kwa zaka 31. ² Iye anachita zolungama pamaso pa Yehova ndi kutsata makhalidwe a Davide abambo ake, osatembenukira kumanja kapena kumanzere.

³ 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. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Iye anatentha mafupa a ansembe pa maguwa awo, kotero iye anayeretsa Yuda ndi Yerusalemu. ⁶ Ku mizinda ya Manase, Efereimu ndi Simeoni mpaka kufika ku Nafutali, ndiponso malo a mabanja owazungulira, ⁷ 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.

⁸ 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.

⁹ 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.