To The Word – Day 83

₁UJowabhi waxelelwa kwathiwa: “Uyabona, ukumkani uzilile, elilela uAbhasalom.” ₂Ngaloo mini uvuyo loloyiso lwajika lwaba lusizi kuwo wonke umkhosi kaDavide, kuba eva kusithiwa: “Ukumkani uzilile ngenxa yonyana wakhe.” ₃Loo mkhosi wabuyela edolophini unyoshoza oku komkhosi obaleke edabini. ₄Wazigquma ubuso ukumkani, watsho esikrakra isikhalo, esithi: “Yini umntwana wam uAbhasalom! Abhasalom, nyana wam, nyana wam!”

₅Wasuka uJowabhi, waya endlwini kakumkani, wafika wathi kukumkani: “Namhlanje uwaphoxile amadoda omkhosi wakho, nditsho amadoda asindise ubomi bakho, ubomi boonyana neentombi zakho, nabafazi bakho namaqadi akho. ₆Abo bakuthiyileyo uyabathanda, uze abo bakuthandayo ubathiye. Kucace gca ukuba izinxiba-mxhaka zakho kwakunye namadoda omkhosi akuzikhathalele. Ndiyabona ukuba namhlanje ngewuvuya ukuba ebengafanga uAbhasalom, kufe thina endaweni yakhe. ₇Hamba ke ngoku, uye kuthetha nawo uwancome la madoda, kuba ngomso kusasa kobe kungekho nanye kuwo ehamba nawe, xa ungayenzanga loo nto. Ndifunga *uNdikhoyo! Loo nto ke yoba lelona shwangusha wakha wanalo ebomini bakho ukususela ebutsheni bakho ukuza kuthi ga ngoku.”

₈Usukile ukumkani, waya kuhlala ngasesangweni lesixeko. Axelelwa onke amadoda kwathiwa: “Ukumkani uhleli ngasesangweni.” Abuthelana ngakukumkani ke amadoda omkhosi wakhe.

Ngeli xesha ayeselebalekile onke amaSirayeli, indoda nganye iye kowayo. ₉Afika axabana odwa kuwo wonke loo mmandla. Kwakukho athi: “UDavide wawasindisa kwiintshaba zawo amaSirayeli, wawahlangula esandleni samaFilistiya. Ngoku ubaleke uAbhasalom, walishiya lodwa ilizwe. ₁₀UAbhasalom esamthambisa waba ngukumkani wethu, ngoku ufele edabini. Ke kutheni kuthe cwaka nje malunga nokuphuthunywa kukakumkani uDavide?”

₁₁Ukumkani uDavide wathumela kooZadoki noAbhiyatare ababingeleli, wathi: “Thethani namadoda amakhulu akwaJuda nithi: ‘Kutheni nina nibe ngabokugqibela ukubuyisela ukumkani kwibhotwe lakhe? Kaloku okuthethwayo ngamaSirayeli onke kufikile kukumkani endlwini yakhe. ₁₂Kanti nina niyazalana naye, niligazi lakhe.’ ₁₃Yithini kuAmasa mna naye siyazalana, yaye uThixo uya kuba nento andenzayo, nditsho nokuba iqatha kangakanani, ukuba andimenzi injengele yomkhosi wam yonke imihla yobomi bam esikhundleni sikaJowabhi.”

₁₄Loo mlomo kaDavide wazitsalela kuye iintliziyo zamadoda onke akwaJuda, aba mxhelo-mnye, aza athumela kukumkani athi: “Buyela ekhaya, wena kunye nabo bonke abantu abanawe.” ₁₅Wabuya ukumkani, waya kufika kumlambo iJordan, wahlangatyezwa ngamadoda akwaJuda, awayeze kumkhawulela eGiligali amkhaphe ukuwela loo mlambo.

₁₆Kwangelo xesha uShimeyi unyana kaGera wakwaBhenjamin eBhawurim, waphuthuma ukuya kuhlangabeza ukumkani uDavide eJordan. ₁₇Wayehamba newaka lamadoda esizwe sakwaBhenjamin. UZibha, isicaka sakwakumkani uSawule, naye wayeze noonyana bakhe bolishumi linantlanu kunye namashumi amabini ezicaka, bakhawuleza bafika eJordan apho engekafiki ukumkani. ₁₈Bawuwela umlambo ukuya kuphuthuma iqela likakumkani, bancede nakuloo nto ukumkani afuna yenziwe.

Kuthe xa ukumkani ezilungiselela ukuwela iJordan, weza uShimeyi, wazikhahlela phambi kwakhe, ₁₉wathi: “Mhlekazi, ndixolele into endakwenza yona ngamhla uyishiya iJerusalem. Musukuba sandixhiba, ungabi sayicinga konke loo nto. ₂₀Ndiyazi ukuba ndakona, mhlekazi. Yiyo ke loo nto ndingowokuqala kwindlu kaJosefu ukuza kufika apha, ndikukhawulele namhlanje.”

₂₁Kwathetha uAbhishayi, unyana kaZeruya, wathi: “Makabulawe uShimeyi lo ngokuqalekisa umthanjiswa *kaNdikhoyo.”

₂₂UDavide wathi: “Yintoni endidibanisa nani, bonyana bakaZeruya? Kutheni le nto nifana neentshaba kum namhlanje? Kaloku ndim ngoku ukumkani wakwaSirayeli; ngoko ke akukho mSirayeli uya kubulawa namhlanje.” ₂₃Uqhube wathi ebhekisa kuShimeyi: “Akuyi kufa.” Waza ke ukumkani wathembisa oku ngesifungo.

₂₄Kufike uMefibhoshete, umzukulwana kaSawule, naye eze kukhawulela ukumkani. Wayengazange azihlambe iinyawo, achebe amabhovu, nezambatho sezawagqibela kudala amanzi, okoko wemkayo eJerusalem uDavide kude kuze kuba yile mini abuya noloyiso. ₂₅Uthe akufika evela eJerusalem, wathi kuye ukumkani: “Mefibhoshete, kwakutheni ukuze ungahambi nam?”

₂₆Uphendule ngelithi uMefibhoshete: “Mhlekazi, nkosi yam, uyazi ukuba ndisisiqhwala. Ndathi isicaka sam uZibha masibophe idonki ndihambe ngayo ndikukhaphe, kodwa sona sasuka sandiphoxa. ₂₇Saza kuxoka ngam kuwe, mhlekazi. Kambe ke wena mhlekazi, nkosi yam, usisithunywa sikaThixo – yenza loo nto ubona ifanele. ₂₈Kwathi umzi kabawo umelwe kukubulawa, wena wathi mandiye kuhlala kwakho. Andisenako nokuba ndibe sacela isisa kuwe ngoku, mhlekazi.”

₂₉Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Musa ukuba sathetha; ndigqibe kwelokuba wena noZibha nahlulelane ngomhlaba kaSawule.”

₃₀UMefibhoshete wathi kukumkani: “Makakuthathe konke uZibha, mhlekazi. Mna ndixolile kukubona wena ubuyela ekhaya.”

₃₁UBhazilayi waseGiliyadi wayekho naye, evela eRogelim, eze kuphuthuma ukumkani eJordan. ₃₂Wayesele eyinkonde emashumi asibhozo ubudala. Wayesisityebi, esoloko emondla ukumkani ngokuya wayeseMahanayim. ₃₃Ukumkani wathi kuBhazilayi: “Masiye eJerusalem, wondliwe ndim wena ngoku.”

₃₄Uthe uBhazilayi: “Mhlekazi, seyimbalwa imihla yokudla kwam ubomi; ndiza kuba sahambela ntoni ukuya nokumkani eJerusalem? ₃₅Sendimashumi asibhozo ubudala; akusekho nto imnandi nembi kum. Ukutya nento eselwayo azisenancasa kum; andisawuva nomculo weemvumi neemvumikazi. Ndingasuka ndibe ngumthwalo kuwe ngoku, mhlekazi, nkosi yam. ₃₆Noko andikufanelanga ukuba ukumkani andivuze ngolo hlobo. Ndiza kuhamba nje ithutyana, ndikukhaphe uwele iJordan, ₃₇emva koko ndijike ndigoduke, ndiye kufela ngakumathambo kabawo noma. Nasi isicaka sakho uKimam; ungahamba naso, mhlekazi, usenzele loo nto wena ubona ukuba isilungele.”

₃₈Uthe ukuphendula ukumkani: “Makahambe nam uKimam; ndomenzela into efunwa nguwe. Wena ndingakwenzela nantoni na oyifunayo.” ₃₉Wayiwela ke iJordan ukumkani uDavide nawo onke amadoda omkhosi wakhe. Uthe akuba ngaphesheya wajika wanga uBhazilayi, wamthamsanqela, waza ke uBhazilayi wajika wagoduka.

₄₀Uthe akuwela ukumkani ekhatshwa ngawo onke amadoda akwaJuda nenxalenye yamadoda akwaSirayeli, waya eGiligali. Wayelapho noKimam. ₄₁Emva koko amaSirayeli onke aya kukumkani, afika athi: “Mhlekazi, ngaba abantakwethu abaya bakwaJuda babuthathe phi ubuganga bokukuthatha eJordan nomzi wakho uphela?”

₄₂Onke amadoda akwaJuda awaphendula awakwaSirayeli athi: “Loo nto siyenze ngenxa yokuba nathi sibanye nokumkani. Yintoni ke ekhathazayo kuloo nto, engasihlawuleli nakutya nje, kungekho nanto asenzele yona?”

₄₃Aphendula amadoda akwaSirayeli athi kumadoda akwaJuda: “Sinebango eliphindwe kalishumi kunani kukumkani. Ke ngoko sinelungelo kuye kunani. Ngani ke ukuba nisidele? Sanukulibala ukuba sithi kaloku esathetha kuqala ngokulandwa kukakumkani.”

Amadoda akwaJuda ayegadlela wona kunamaSirayeli ekwenzeni elawo ibango ngokumkani.

₁Apho eGiligali kwakukho itshijolo elithile lomfo ogama linguShebha, unyana kaBhikri wesizwe sakwaBhenjamin. Wasuka wabetha isigodlo sakhe, wamemelela esithi: “Asinasahlulo kuDavide, singenalifa kunyana kaJese. Elowo makaye endlwini yakhe, maSirayeli!”

₂Ke onke amadoda akwaSirayeli amshiya uDavide, alandela uShebha unyana kaBhikri, kodwa wona amaJuda asala noDavide, amlandela ukusuka eJordan ada aya kutsho naye eJerusalem.

₃Wathi uDavide akufika komkhulu eJerusalem, wawathatha lawo maqadi akhe alishumi ayesele ejonge ikomkhulu, wathi makajongwe ngabalindi. Wayebondla, kodwa akabuyanga ahlangane nabo, bahlala ubomi bobuhlolokazi bonke ubomi babo.

₄UDavide wathi kuAmasa: “Wabize amadoda akwaJuda eze apha zingadlulanga iintsuku ezintathu.” ₅Wahamba uAmasa, esiya kubiza amaJuda, kodwa akabuya ngosuku awayemiselwe lona ngukumkani.

₆Uvakele esithi ukumkani kuAbhishayi: “Phofu uyaqonda na ukuba uShebha unyana kaBhikri uza kusenzela ingxwaba-ngxwaba nangaphezu koAbhasalom. Hamba nala madoda omkhosi wam, nimlandele engekayi kwiidolophu ezinqatyisiweyo, asithele emehlweni ethu.” ₇Asuka ke amadoda ebutho likaJowabhi, nabalindi abangamaKreti namaPleti, nawo onke amagorha, anduluka eJerusalem, alanda ekhondweni likaShebha unyana kaBhikri.

₈Bathi bakufika ngakwelaa liwa laseGibheyon, bahlangana noAmasa. UJowabhi wayegaxele ezedabi, ikrele lisesingxobeni, sibotshelelwe ebhantini. Uthe akusondela lawa elo krele.

₉UJowabhi wathi kuAmasa: “Uphila njani, mfo wethu?” Wamthi nqaku ngentshebe uAmasa ngesokunene isandla sakhe, eza kumanga. ₁₀UAmasa wayengalilumkelanga ikrele elalisesandleni sikaJowabhi, wamhlaba ngalo esiswini, wamkhupha amathumbu. Wafa kwangoko, akwafuneka ukuba abuye amhlabe uJowabhi.

Basuka apho uJowabhi nomntakwabo uAbhishayi bangena endleleni, belandela uShebha unyana kaBhikri. ₁₁Enye kulaa madoda ayehamba noJowabhi yasala imi ngakweso sidumbu sika-Amasa, ikhwaza isithi: “Indoda engakwicala likaJowabhi noDavide mayilandele uJowabhi.” ₁₂Isidumbu sika-Amasa esasilijaja ligazi sasiqungquluze phakathi endleleni. Loo ndoda yathi yakubona amadoda afika eme apho, yasirhuqela entsimini eso sidumbu, yasigquma ngengubo. ₁₃Emva koko ke wonke umntu walandela uJowabhi, kuzingelwa uShebha unyana kaBhikri.

₁₄UShebha wawutyhutyha wonke ummandla wezizwe zakwaSirayeli, wada waya kutsho kwidolophu iAbhele-bhete-mahaka, elandelwa nguwo wonke umzi wakwaBhikri. ₁₅UJowabhi nomkhosi wakhe bamngqinga uShebha apho eAbhele-bhete-mahaka. Benza amanqwanqwa ngomhlaba okuqabela udonga lwangaphandle, bemba ngaphantsi kodonga, befuna ukuluwisa.

₁₆Kweso sixeko kwakukho umfazi owayehlakaniphile. Wamemeza engaphakathi, wathi: “Khawuphulaphule apha. Nceda undibizele uJowabhi; ndifuna ukuthetha naye.”

₁₇Efikile uJowabhi, wabuza loo mfazi wathi: “UnguJowabhi?”

Wathi: “Ewe, ndinguye.”

Umfazi lowo wathi kuye: “Khawuphulaphule ke, mhlekazi, oko isicakazana sakho sikuthethayo.”

Yena wathi: “Ewe, qhuba, ndimamele.”

₁₈Umfazi lowo wathi: “Kudala kwakudla ngokuthiwa: ‘Yiya kwidolophu iAbhele, uye kuvisa khona.’ Yayisenziwa ke loo nto. ₁₉Le yidolophu exolileyo nethembekileyo kwaSirayeli; kutheni ke ngoku uyidiliza nje, utshabalalisa isixeko esingunozala kuSirayeli? Ngani ukuba ufune ukucima isixeko esililifa *likaNdikhoyo?”

₂₀Waphendula uJowabhi wathi: “Hayi, andingeke ndisidilize isixeko senu ndisicime. ₂₁Asiyiyo injongo yam leyo. Kukho umfo okuthiwa nguShebha, unyana kaBhikri wakweleentaba kwaEfrayim; nguye oqale olu dushe ngokuvukela ukumkani uDavide. Mkhupheni ngaphandle; ndosiyeka esi sixeko.”

“Kulungile, intloko yakhe soyijula ngaphandle kodonga,” utshilo loo mfazi. ₂₂Wabuyela kubemi balapho necebo lakhe, bamnqumla intloko uShebha, bayijula ngaphandle kodonga kuJowabhi. Wasivuthela isigodlo, amadoda akhe ayeka ukusihlasela isixeko, agoduka. Wenjenjeya noJowabhi ukubuyela kukumkani eJerusalem.

₂₃Umphathi-mkhosi wakwaSirayeli yayinguJowabhi. Abalindi bakakumkani uDavide abangamaKreti namaPleti umphathi wabo yayinguBhenaya unyana kaJoyada. ₂₄UAdoram yena wayephethe abo benza umsebenzi ngokunyanzelwa; uYoshafati yena, unyana ka-Ahiludi, wayengumgcini-manqaku, ₂₅uSheva ingunobhala, ababingeleli inguZadoki noAbhiyatare. ₂₆UIra waseJayire wayengomnye wababingeleli bakaDavide.

₁Kwabakho indlala enkulu eyathatha iminyaka emithathu ngexesha kulawula uDavide. UDavide wafuna ukuqonda *kuNdikhoyo, waza uNdikhoyo wathi: “Kungenxa kaSawule nokuphalaza kwendlu yakhe igazi mhla wababulalayo abantu baseGibheyon.”

₂Abantu baseGibheyon bebengengawo amaSirayeli. Babeliqaqobana lama-Amori awathenjiswa ukukhuselwa ngamaSirayeli, kodwa uSawule walinga ukuwatshabalalisa, kuba etshiseka ngenxa yenkqubela yamaSirayeli namaJuda. UDavide ke wawabiza amaGibheyon, ₃waza wathi kuwo: “Ngaba nifuna ndinenzele ntoni? Ndinganixolisa njani ukuze nilithamsanqelise ilifa likaNdikhoyo?”

₄Athi ukuphendula amaGibheyon: “Imbambano yethu noSawule nomzi wakhe ayinakuze ilungiswe ngegolide nesiliva, yaye asizimiselanga ukukhupha isixhiba ngokubulala namnye umSirayeli.”

Yena wathi: “Ke nifuna ndinenzele ntoni?”

₅Athi kukumkani: “Indoda eyasitshabalalisayo, iceba ukusicima igama kwimida yakwaSirayeli, ₆masinikwe amadoda abe sixhenxe kwinzala yayo, aye kuxhonywa phambi koNdikhoyo eGibheya, isixeko sikaSawule ukumkani owatyunjwa nguNdikhoyo.”

Ukumkani wathi: “Kulungile, ndiza kunikhululela.”

₇UDavide wamsindisa uMefibhoshete, unyana kaJonatan unyana kaSawule, ngenxa yesifungo awasenza kunye noJonatan phambi koNdikhoyo. ₈Kodwa ke wakhupha uArmoni kunye noMefibhoshete, oonyana ababini bakaRizpa intombi ka-Aya eyabazalela uSawule, kunye noonyana abahlanu bentombi kaSawule uMerabhi eyabazalela uAdriyeli unyana kaBhazilayi waseMehola, ₉wabanikela esandleni sabantu baseGibheyon. Bona baya kubaxhoma entabeni ngaphambi koNdikhoyo. Bafa bonke ngaxesha-nye. Ukufa kwabo kwakungexesha lokuqalisa ukuvuna, ekuqaleni kokuvunwa kwerhasi.

₁₀Emva koko uRizpa intombi ka-Aya wazenzela indlu yamarhonya kwelo litye babefele kulo, wahlala apho ukususela ngexesha lokuvuna kwada kwalixesha leemvula. Emini wayedla ngokugxotha amaxhalanga, aze ngokuhlwa agxothe amarhamncwa afuna ukudla ezo zidumbu.

₁₁Wathi uDavide, zakufika kuye ezo ndaba zento eyenziwa nguRizpa iqadi likaSawule, ₁₂waya kuthatha amathambo kaSawule noJonatan kubantu baseJabheshe eGiliyadi. (Babewabe endaweni yembutho yaseBhete-shan apho yayixhonywe khona imizimba yabo ngamhla amaFilistiya abulala uSawule kwintaba iGilibhowa.) ₁₃Wemka nawo uDavide amathambo kaSawule noJonatan kwakunye nawabo basixhenxe babexhonywe apho. ₁₄Bawafaka engcwabeni likaKishe uyise kaSawule amathambo kaSawule noJonatan eZela kummandla wakwaBhenjamin njengokomthetho kakumkani. Emva koko uThixo wayiva imithandazo yabo bethandazela ilizwe.

₁₅Kwavuka enye imfazwe phakathi kwamaFilistiya namaSirayeli, wanduluka uDavide waya kulwa namaFilistiya enamadoda akhe. Balwa ke namaFilistiya, waza uDavide wadinwa kakhulu. ₁₆Wasuka uIshbhi-bhenobhi wenzala kaRafa, ephethe umkhonto wobhedu obunzima bungaphezu kweekhilogram ezintathu, enekrele elitsha, wafuna ukubulala uDavide. ₁₇Waza uAbhishayi, unyana kaZeruya, waya kunceda uDavide. Ufike wamhlasela loo mFilistiya, wamosela. Emva koko amadoda kaDavide enza isifungo athi: “Unakanye ukuba uphinde uye edabini kunye nathi, hleze isibane sakwaSirayeli sicinywe.”

₁₈Emva kwelo dabi kwabakho elinye idabi namaFilistiya eGobhi, apho uSibhekayi waseHusha wabulala uSafu wenzala kaRafa.

₁₉Kuphinde kwabakho elinye idabi kunye namaFilistiya kwaseGobhi apho, waza uEl-hanani, unyana kaJayire umluki waseBhetelehem, wabulala khona uGoliyati waseGati owayephethe umkhonto ongangesibonda.

₂₀Kubekho elinye idabi eGati, apho kwakukho ingxilimbela eyayikuthanda kunene ukulwa. Yayiyinto eminwe mithandathu kwisandla ngasinye, ineenzwane ezintandathu kunyawo ngalunye, amashumi amabini anesine ukutsho. Nayo yayiyinzala kaRafa. ₂₁Yawathuka amaSirayeli, yabulawa nguJonatan unyana kaShama umntakwabo-Davide.

₂₂Bobane aba babeyinzala kaRafa eGati. Babulawa nguDavide namadoda akhe.

₁UDavide wabhekisa lo mhobe *kuNdikhoyo mhla wamkhulula kwiintshaba zakhe nasesandleni sikaSawule. ₂Wathi:

₁Nanku ke umyolelo kaDavide:

₈Ngawo la amagama amagorha omkhosi kaDavide: nguYoshebhe-bhashebhete waseTakemon kuqala, owayeyinkokheli yamagorha amathathu. Walwa namakhulu asibhozo amadoda eyedwa, wawabulala onke ngomkhonto wakhe kwidabi elinye.

₉Olandelayo nguElazare unyana kaDodo umAhoyi. Engomnye wamagorha amathathu nje, yena wayekunye noDavide xa bacela umngeni kumaFilistiya awayeze edabini. Abuya umva amaSirayeli, ₁₀kodwa yena wangena kuwo amaFilistiya, wabetha sada isandla sakhe sagogeka yinkantsi, watsho akabi nako ukuliyeka ikrele lakhe. *UNdikhoyo watshatshela edabini loo mini. Igalelo labalandeli bakaElazare kwelo dabi yaba kukuthimba impahla yabawileyo.

₁₁Olandelayo nguShama unyana ka-Age waseHarari. Waqubisana namaFilistiya eLehi ngasentsimini yeentlumayo. Abaleka amaSirayeli, ₁₂wema yena uShama, walwa ekhusela loo ntsimi, afa amaFilistiya, watshatshela uNdikhoyo.

₁₃Kwakha kwathi kanye xa kusondela ixesha lokuvuna, kwasuka isithathu kuloo madoda angamashumi amathathu aziintloko zomkhosi kaDavide, saya kuye kumqolomba waseAdulam, lo gama wona umkhosi wamaFilistiya umise ngakwintili yamaRafa. ₁₄Ngelo xesha uDavide wayesezintabeni kwindawo enqabileyo, kukho ibutho lamaFilistiya eBhetelehem. ₁₅UDavide wanxanwa, waza wathi: “Akwaba bekungakho mntu undiphathela amanzi kwelaa qula lingasesangweni eBhetelehem.” ₁₆Loo magorha mathathu ke atyhoboza apho kuloo maFilistiya, aya kukha amanzi apho kwelo qula lingasesangweni eBhetelehem, abuya nawo, awanika uDavide. Kambe ke uDavide wala ukuwasela, ndaweni yaloo nto wawachitha, esenza umnikelo ngawo kuNdikhoyo, esithi: ₁₇“Andinakuze ndiwasele la manzi, Ndikhoyo. Loo nto ingafana nqwa nokusela igazi lala madoda abubeke esichengeni ubomi bawo.” UDavide wala ukuwasela loo manzi.

Zazinjalo ke izigigaba zaloo magorha mathathu.

₁₈UAbhishayi, umntakwabo-Jowabhi, onina unguZeruya, yayinguye inkokheli yamashumi amathathu amagorha. Yena ngomkhonto wakhe walwa namadoda angamakhulu amathathu, wawabulala, watsho wabalasela njengaloo magorha mathathu. ₁₉Ewe, waba yimbalasane njengaloo magorha mathathu, waba yinkokheli yelo qela lingamashumi amathathu, noxa engabandakanywanga kuloo magorha mathathu.

₂₀Enye indoda eyayitshatshele ngemisebenzi yobugorha nguBhenaya unyana kaJoyada waseKabhezeli. Yena wabulala iintshatsheli zamaMowabhi ezimbini. Kwakhona ngemini ekwakukhithika ngayo waya kungena emhadini, wabulala khona ingonyama. ₂₁Wabulala nesigantsontso somJiputa ophethe umkhonto. UBhenaya wamgqebha ngebhunguza, hlasi loo mkhonto, wamgwaza kwangawo loo mJiputa. ₂₂Zazinjalo ke izigigaba zikaBhenaya unyana kaJoyada; naye wayedume njengaloo magorha mathathu. ₂₃Wayebalasele phakathi kwaloo magorha angamashumi amathathu, kodwa wayengabandakanywanga kuloo magorha mathathu. UDavide wamenza inkokheli yabalindi bokumkani.

₂₄Kuloo magorha angamashumi amathathu kwakukho aba:

Babengamashumi mathathu anesixhenxe xa bebonke.

₁Wabuya wavutha umsindo *kaNdikhoyo ngakumaSirayeli, waza waxhokonxa uDavide ukuchasana nawo, esithi: “Yiya uwabale amaSirayeli namaJuda.”

₂UDavide ukumkani uyalele uJowabhi umphathi-mkhosi owayekunye naye, wathi: “Zibale zonke izizwe zakwaSirayeli, ukususela kwaDan kuse eBheshebha, khon' ukuze ndilazi inani labantu.”

₃Ke yena uJowabhi wathi kukumkani: “Ngamana uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho wabandisa kalikhulu abantu, aze amehlo enkosi yam ukumkani ayibone loo nto. Kodwa ke, nkosi yam mhlekazi, ngani ukuba ufune ukwenza into enje?”

₄Kambe ke ilizwi likakumkani laboyisa ooJowabhi nabaphathi-mkhosi, baza ke bahamba bamshiya ukumkani, baya kubala uluntu lwakwaSirayeli.

₅Bawuwela umlambo iJordan, baya kuqalisa emazantsi eArohere kwisixeko esasisembindini wentlambo kummandla wakwaGati. Besuka apho baya emantla weYazere, ₆bedlulela eGiliyadi nakummandla waseTatim-hodeshe, baya kutsho kwaDan-yahan, benjenjeya ukusa eSidon. ₇Besuka apho bajonga emazantsi kwidolophu yaseTire eyayinqatyisiwe, baya badlulela nakuzo zonke iidolophu zamaHivi namaKanana, baya kugqibela ngeBheshebha ekumzantsi welakwaJuda.

₈Babuyela eJerusalem emva kweenyanga ezilithoba namashumi amabini eentsuku, sele belityhutyhile lonke elo lizwe. ₉UJowabhi ke wamchazela ukumkani inani lamadoda akulungeleyo ukubhaliswa emkhosini. KwaSirayeli yaba ngamakhulu asibhozo amawaka amadoda akwaziyo ukusebenzisa ikrele, kwaza kwaJuda yaba ngamakhulu amahlanu amawaka.

₁₀Kusuke kwathi akuba elwenzile olo balo uDavide wangenwa kukuba nomva-ndedwa. Waza ke wazibika kuNdikhoyo wathi: “Ndenze into embi gqitha ngesi senzo, Ndikhoyo. Ngoko ke ndiyakubongoza, bususe ubutyala bam, mna sicaka sakho. Ndenze into yobutyhakala.”

₁₁Ekuvukeni kukaDavide ngentsasa elandelayo ilizwi likaNdikhoyo laliselifikile *kumshumayeli uGadi, imboni kaDavide, lisithi: ₁₂“Hamba uye kuthi kuDavide: ‘Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Ndikubekela izinto ezintathu. Khetha ibe nye kuzo, ndize ke mna ndikwenze loo nto.’ ”

₁₃UGadi ke waya kuDavide, wafika wamxelela esithi: “Khetha phakathi kweminyaka esixhenxe yendlala ezweni lakho, okanye iinyanga ezintathu ubalekana neentshaba zakho xa zona zikusukela, okanye iintsuku ezintathu kukho isibetho sikabhubhani ezweni lakho. Cingisisa ugqibe, undinike impendulo emandiyise kulowo undithumileyo.”

₁₄UDavide waphendula wathi kuGadi: “Ndisengxakini enkulu. Kodwa ke kubhetele siwele ezandleni zikaNdikhoyo, kuba inkulu inceba yakhe. Ewe, andikunqweneli ukuwela ezandleni zabantu.”

₁₅Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wathumela isibetho sikabhubhani kwaSirayeli. Saqalisa kwangentsasa yangaloo mini, kwada kwaya kutsho kwelaa xesha wayelimisele. Kwafa amashumi asixhenxe amawaka abantu ukusukela kwaDan kuye kutsho eBheshebha. ₁₆Kwathi xa isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sasisolula isandla siza kutshabalalisa iJerusalem, uNdikhoyo wazijika iimbono zakhe ngenxa yaloo ntlekele, waza wathi kwisithunywa esasitshabalalisa abantu: “Kwanele! Sirhoxise isandla sakho.” Oku kwenzeke xa kanye isithunywa sasingakwisanda sokubhula sika-Aravena umJebhusi.

₁₇Akusibona uDavide eso sithunywa sasibhubhisa abantu, wathi kuNdikhoyo: “Ndim owonileyo wenza ubugwenxa. Aba bantu bona banjengeegusha; akukho nto bayenzileyo. Isandla sakho masohlwaywe mna kunye nomzi kabawo.”

₁₈Kwangaloo mini uGadi waya kuDavide, wathi kuye: “Hamba uye kwakhela uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini esandeni sokubhula sika-Aravena umJebhusi.” ₁₉Ngoko ke uDavide waya wayenza loo nto ayiyalelwe nguGadi ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo.

₂₀Wathi akukhangela uAravena, wabona ukumkani esiza kuye ehamba namaphakathi akhe. Waphuma uAravena, wakhahlela ejongise ubuso emhlabeni phambi kokumkani. ₂₁Waza uAravena wathi: “Kungani ukuba ukumkani inkosi yam eze kwisicaka sakhe?”

Waphendula ukumkani uDavide wathi: “Ndize kuthenga esaa sanda sokubhula sakwakho, ndize ndakhele kuso uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini, khon' ukuze isibetho sikabhubhani sinqamke ebantwini.”

₂₂Wathi uAravena kuDavide: “Inkosi yam ukumkani mayithathe konke okukholekileyo kuyo, yenze idini. Naziya iinkabi zeenkomo zokwenza idini elitshiswayo. Naziya nezileyi zokubhula kunye needyokhwe zokwenziwa iinkuni. ₂₃Zonke ezi zinto, mhlekazi, uAravena uzinika ukumkani.” Waza waqhuba uAravena wathi kukumkani: “Ubenga uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho angakwamkela.”

₂₄Kambe ke ukumkani uphendule uAravena wathi: “Ngunotshe lowo! Ndiza kulihlawula ixabiso lazo. Andingekhe ndinikele kuNdikhoyo amadini atshiswayo ngento endingadlekanga ngayo.” UDavide wasithenga ke eso sanda sokubhula kunye neenkabi zeenkomo ngexabiso elingamashumi amahlanu eesiliva. ₂₅UDavide ke wakhela uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini apho, waza wenza amadini atshiswayo kunye nawobudlelwana. Wakuva uNdikhoyo ukuthandazelwa kwelizwe, satsho saphela isibetho sikabhubhani kwaSirayeli.