To The Word – Day 83

₁Kwabikelwa uJowabe ukuthi: “Bheka, inkosi iyakhala, imlilela u-Abisalomu.” ₂Ukunqoba ngalolo suku kwaphenduka isililo kubantu bonke, ngokuba abantu bezwa kwathiwa ngalolo suku: “Inkosi idabukile ngendodana yayo.” ₃Abantu bangena emzini ngalolo suku ngokunyenya njengabantu abanamahloni benyenya, bebalekela impi. ₄Inkosi yamboza ubuso bayo, inkosi yakhala ngezwi elikhulu, yathi: “Hhawu, ndodana yami Abisalomu, Abisalomu, ndodana yami, ndodana yami!”

₅UJowabe wangena endlini enkosini, wathi: “Udumazile namuhla ubuso bazo zonke izinceku zakho ezisindisile ukuphila kwakho namuhla, nokuphila kwamadodana akho namadodakazi akho, nokuphila kwabafazi bakho, nokuphila kwezancinza zakho ₆ngokubathanda abakuzondayo nangokubazonda abakuthandayo. Ngokuba umemezele namuhla ukuthi izikhulu nezinceku azilutho kuwe, lokhu ngibona namuhla ukuthi uma ebephilile u-Abisalomu thina sonke besifile namuhla, ngabe kulungile emehlweni akho. ₇Ngalokho suka, ukhulume kahle ezincekwini zakho, ngokuba ngifunga uJehova ngithi, uma ungaphumi, akuyikusala muntu kuwe ngalobu busuku; lokhu kuyakuba kubi kuwe kunakho konke okubi okukwehlele kwasebusheni bakho kuze kube namuhla.”

₈Yayisisuka inkosi, yahlala esangweni. Kwathiwa kubo bonke abantu: “Bhekani, inkosi ihlezi esangweni.” Base befika abantu bonke phambi kwenkosi. Kepha abakwa-Israyeli babebalekele, kwaba yilowo nalowo etendeni lakhe. ₉Bonke abantu babephikisana ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli, bethi: “Inkosi yasophula esandleni sezitha zethu, yasikhulula esandleni samaFilisti; manje isibalekile ezweni, imbalekele u-Abisalomu. ₁₀U-Abisalomu esamgcoba ukuba abe phezu kwethu usefile empini. Manje nithuleleni, ningayibuyisi inkosi na?”

₁₁Inkosi uDavide yathumela kuSadoki naku-Abiyathara abapristi, yathi: “Khulumani kumalunga akwaJuda, nithi: ‘Kungani ukuba nibe ngabokugcina ukubuyisela inkosi endlini yayo, lokhu kufinyelele enkosini nasendlini yayo konke ukukhuluma kuka-Israyeli, na? ₁₂Ningabafowethu, niyithambo lami nenyama yami; ngalokho kungani ukuba nibe ngabokugcina ukuyibuyisa inkosi na?’ ₁₃Yishoni ku-Amasa ukuthi: ‘Angithi uyithambo lami nenyama yami na? Makenze njalo kimi uNkulunkulu, enezele futhi, uma ungayikuba yinduna yempi ngaphambi kwami njalo esikhundleni sikaJowabe.’ ”

₁₄Wathobisa izinhliziyo zabantu bonke bakwaJuda njengomuntu munye, baze bathuma enkosini, bathi: “Buya wena nazo zonke izinceku zakho.” ₁₅Yayisibuya inkosi, yafika eJordani; uJuda wafika eGiligali ukuba ayihlangabeze inkosi, ayiwelise inkosi iJordani. ₁₆UShimeyi indodana kaGera umBenjamini waseBahurimi washesha wehla nabantu bakwaJuda ukuyihlangabeza inkosi. ₁₇Kweza naye abantu abayinkulungwane bakwaBenjamini, noSiba inceku yendlu kaSawule, namadodana akhe ayishumi nanhlanu, nezinceku zakhe ezingamashumi amabili zinaye; bawela iJordani phambi kwenkosi. ₁₈Kwawela isikebhe sokuwelisa abendlu yenkosi nokwenza okwakukuhle emehlweni ayo. UShimeyi indodana kaGera wawela phansi phambi kwenkosi isiyakuliwela iJordani. ₁₉Wathi enkosini: “Inkosi yami mayingangibaleli icala, futhi ungakhumbuli okubi okwenziwa yinceku yakho mhla inkosi yami, inkosi, iphuma eJerusalema, ukuba inkosi ikubeke enhliziyweni yayo. ₂₀Ngokuba inceku yakho iyazi ukuthi yonile; bheka, ngifikile namuhla ngingowokuqala wendlu yonke kaJosefa, ngehle ukuhlangabeza inkosi yami, inkosi.”

₂₁Kepha u-Abishayi indodana kaSeruya waphendula wathi: “UShimeyi akayikubulawa yini ngalokho, njengokuba wathuka ogcotshiweyo kaJehova, na?”

₂₂UDavide wathi: “Nginamsebenzi muni nani madodana kaSeruya ukuba nimelane nami namuhla na? Kuzakubulawa umuntu namuhla kwa-Israyeli na? Angazi yini mina ukuthi namuhla ngiyinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli na?” ₂₃Inkosi yayisithi kuShimeyi: “Awuyikufa.” Inkosi yafunga kuye.

₂₄Naye uMefibosheti indodana kaSawule wehla ukuhlangabeza inkosi; wayengalungisanga izinyawo zakhe, engalungisanga nesilevu sakhe, engahlanzanga futhi izingubo zakhe, kwasukela osukwini inkosi eyamuka ngalo kwaze kwaba lusuku owabuya ngalo ngokuthula. ₂₅Kwathi esefike eJerusalema ukuyihlangabeza inkosi, inkosi yathi kuye: “Awuhambanga ngani nami, Mefibosheti, na?”

₂₆Wathi: “Nkosi yami, nkosi, inceku yami yangikhohlisa, ngokuba inceku yakho yathi: ‘Ngiyakuzibophelela imbongolo ukuba ngiyikhwele, ngihambe nenkosi, ngokuba inceku yakho ilunyonga.’ ₂₇Ihlebile inceku yakho enkosini yami, inkosi, kepha inkosi yami, inkosi, injengengelosi kaNkulunkulu; ngalokho yenza okuhle emehlweni akho. ₂₈Ngokuba yonke indlu kababa yayinjengabantu abafileyo phambi kwenkosi yami, inkosi; kepha wayibeka inceku yakho phakathi kwabadla etafuleni lakho. Ngisenalungelo lini ukuba ngibuye ngikhale enkosini na?”

₂₉Inkosi yathi kuye: “Usakhulumelani ngezindaba zakho na? Ngithi: Wena noSiba, yahlukaniselani izwe.”

₃₀Wayesethi uMefibosheti enkosini: “Makathathe konke, njengokuba inkosi yami, inkosi, isibuyele endlini yayo ngokuthula.”

₃₁UBarizilayi wakwaGileyadi wehla eRogelimi; wawela iJordani kanye nenkosi ukuyiwelisa iJordani. ₃₂UBarizilayi wayengumuntu omdala kakhulu, eneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalombili; wayekade eyipha inkosi ukudla isahlezi eMahanayimi, ngokuba wayengumuntu omkhulu kakhulu. ₃₃Inkosi yathi kuBarizilayi: “Wela nami wena, ngikondle kanye nami eJerusalema.”

₃₄Wayesethi uBarizilayi enkosini: “Zingaki izinsuku zeminyaka yokuhamba kwami ukuba ngenyukele eJerusalema nenkosi na? ₃₅Namuhla ngineminyaka engamashumi ayisihiyagalombili; ngingahlukanisa okuhle nokubi yini? Inceku yakho ingezwa ekudlayo nekuphuzayo na? Ngingabe ngisalizwa izwi lamadoda ahlabelelayo nabesifazane abahlabelelayo na? Inceku yakho isezakuba ngumthwalo wenkosi yami, inkosi, ngani na? ₃₆Inceku yakho iyakusimze iwele nje iJordani nenkosi; pho, inkosi iyakungivuzelani ngomvuzo ongaka na? ₃₇Mayibuyele emuva inceku yakho ukuba ngifele emzini wami ngasethuneni likababa nelikamame. Kepha bheka, inceku yakho uKimihamu mayiwele nenkosi yami, inkosi, wenze kuyo okuhle emehlweni akho.”

₃₈Inkosi yathi: “UKimihamu angawela nami, mina ngenze kuye okuhle emehlweni akho; konke okufunayo kimi ngiyakukwenzela khona.”

₃₉Bonke abantu bawela iJordani, nenkosi yawela; inkosi yamanga uBarizilayi, yambusisa; wabuyela endaweni yakhe.

₄₀Yayisiwela inkosi, yaya eGiligali, noKimihamu wawela nayo; bonke abantu bakwaJuda bayiwelisa inkosi kanye nenxenye yabantu bakwa-Israyeli.

₄₁Bheka, base befika bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli enkosini, bathi enkosini: “Abafowethu amadoda akwaJuda bakwebeleni, bawelisa inkosi nabendlu yayo iJordani kanye nabo bonke abantu bakwaDavide benaye, na?”

₄₂Bonke abantu bakwaJuda baphendula abantu bakwa-Israyeli, bathi: “Ngokuba inkosi iyisihlobo sethu impela; kungani ukuba nithukuthele ngale nto na? Sike sadla ntoni engeyenkosi na? Isixoshisile ngamaxosho na?”

₄₃Abantu bakwa-Israyeli baphendula abantu bakwaJuda, bathi: “Sinezinxenye eziyishumi kunani enkosini, yebo, nakuDavide; nisideleleni na? Izwi lethu lokubuyisa inkosi lalingesilo elokuqala na?” Kepha amazwi abantu bakwaJuda ayelukhuni kunamazwi abantu bakwa-Israyeli.

₁Kwakukhona umuntu omubi ogama lakhe lalinguSheba indodana kaBikri umBenjamini; wabetha icilongo, wathi: “Asinasabelo kuDavide, asinafa endodaneni kaJese; yiyani nonke ematendeni enu, Israyeli.”

₂Bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli base benyuka bengasamlandeli uDavide, bamlandela uSheba indodana kaBikri; kepha abantu bakwaJuda babambelela enkosini yabo kusukela eJordani kuze kube seJerusalema.

₃UDavide wafika endlini yakhe eJerusalema; inkosi yathatha abesifazane abayishumi, izancinza zayo, eyayibashiyile ukuba bayilinde indlu, yababeka endlini yokulindela, yabapha ukudla, kepha ayingenanga kubo. Base bevalelwe kwaze kwaba sosukwini lokufa kwabo, behlezi njengabafelokazi.

₄Yayisithi inkosi ku-Amasa: “Ngibuthele abantu bakwaJuda ngezinsuku ezintathu, ube khona nawe.” ₅Wayesehamba u-Amasa ukubutha uJuda, kepha walibala phezu kwesikhathi asinqunyelweyo.

₆Wayesethi uDavide ku-Abishayi: “Manje uSheba indodana kaBikri uyakwenza okubi kakhulu kithi kuno-Abisalomu; thatha wena izinceku zenkosi yakho, umxoshe, funa azitholele imizi ebiyelweyo, asiphunyuke.” ₇Emva kwakhe kwaphuma amadoda kaJowabe, namaKhereti namaPheleti, namaqhawe onke; baphuma eJerusalema ukuba bamxoshe uSheba indodana kaBikri.

₈Besesetsheni elikhulu eliseGibeyoni, u-Amasa wafika ukubahlangabeza. UJowabe wayebhince isambatho sakhe sokulwa ayelokhu esigqoka; kusona lalikhona ibhande* elinenkemba emgodleni wayo elaligaxwe okhalweni lwakhe; yawa esehamba.

₉UJowabe wayesethi ku-Amasa: “Usaphila, mfowethu, na?” UJowabe wambamba u-Amasa ngesilevu ngesandla sakhe sokunene ukuba amange. ₁₀Kodwa u-Amasa akayinakanga inkemba eyayisesandleni sikaJowabe; wamgwaza ngayo esiswini, wachithela izibilini zakhe emhlabathini; wafa engamphindanga. OJowabe no-Abishayi umfowabo bamxosha uSheba indodana kaBikri.

₁₁Kwema ngakuye enye yezinsizwa zikaJowabe, yathi: “Omthanda uJowabe nongokaDavide mabamlandele uJowabe.” ₁₂U-Amasa wahuquzela egazini lakhe phakathi nomendo. Lapho lo muntu ebona ukuthi bonke abantu bema, wamgudluza u-Amasa emendweni, wamyisa ensimini, waphonsa ingubo phezu kwakhe, lapho ebona ukuthi bonke abadlula ngakuye bema. ₁₃Esesusiwe emendweni, abantu bonke badlula bamlandela uJowabe ukuba bamxoshe uSheba indodana kaBikri.

₁₄Wadabula izizwe zonke zakwa-Israyeli, waze wafika e-Abela, naseBeti Mahakha, nakuwo onke amaBeri; babuthana bamxosha nakhona. ₁₅Bafika bamvimbezela e-Abela laseBeti Mahakha, banqwabela iduli ngasemzini elema ngasodongeni; abantu bonke ababe noJowabe babhidliza ugange ukuba luwe. ₁₆Kwase kumemeza owesifazane ohlakaniphileyo esemzini, wathi: “Zwanini! Zwanini! Ake nithi kuJowabe: ‘Sondela lapho ukuba ngikhulume nawe.’ ” ₁₇Wasondela kuye; owesifazane wayesethi: “Wena unguJowabe na?”

Wathi: “Nginguye.”

Wayesethi kuye: “Yizwa amazwi encekukazi yakho.”

Wathi: “Ngiyezwa.”

₁₈Wathi-ke: “Endulo babevama ukukhuluma ngokuthi: ‘Kuyakubuzwa nokubuzwa e-Abela.’ Base beqeda. ₁₉Mina ngingowokuthula nothembekileyo kwa-Israyeli; wena ufuna ukuchitha umuzi nonina kwa-Israyeli; uyakuligwinyelani ifa likaJehova na?”

₂₀UJowabe waphendula wathi: “Makube kude, makube kude nami ukuba ngigwinye noma ngichithe. ₂₁Akunjalo, kepha umuntu wasezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi, nguSheba indodana kaBikri igama lakhe, uphakamisele isandla sakhe ngasenkosini, kuDavide; nginikeni yena kuphela, khona ngiyakusuka emzini.”

Wayesethi owesifazane kuJowabe: “Bheka, ikhanda lakhe liyakuphonswa kuwe ngaphandle kogange.”

₂₂Owesifazane wayeseya ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe kubantu bonke. Bamnquma uSheba indodana kaBikri ikhanda, baliphonsa kuJowabe. Yena wabetha icilongo, bahlakazeka kulowo muzi, baya, kwaba yilowo nalowo etendeni lakhe. UJowabe wabuyela eJerusalema enkosini.

₂₃UJowabe wayesephezu kwempi yonke yakwa-Israyeli; uBenaya indodana kaJehoyada wayephezu kwamaKhereti namaPheleti; ₂₄u-Adoramu wayephethe imali; uJehoshafati indodana ka-Ahiludi wayengumabhalana. ₂₅USheva wayengumbhali; oSadoki no-Abiyathara babe ngabapristi; ₂₆u-Ira umJayiri wayengumpristi kaDavide.

₁Kwaba khona indlala ezinsukwini zikaDavide iminyaka emithathu ngokulandelana; uDavide wafuna ubuso bukaJehova. UJehova wathi: “Kungenxa kaSawule nangenxa yendlu yakhe yegazi, ngokuba wabulala abaseGibeyoni.”

₂Inkosi yayisibiza abaseGibeyoni, yakhuluma kubo, abaseGibeyoni babengesibo abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, beyinsali yama-Amori; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babefungile kubo; uSawule wafuna ukubabulala ngokushisekela kwakhe abantwana bakwa-Israyeli nabakwaJuda; ₃wathi-ke uDavide kwabaseGibeyoni: “Nginenzele ntoni na? Ngingenza ukubuyisana ngantoni ukuba nibusise ifa likaJehova na?”

₄AbaseGibeyoni bathi kuye: “Akundaba yesiliva negolide noSawule nendlu yakhe, futhi akundaba yokubulala umuntu kwa-Israyeli.”

Wathi: “Enikushoyo ngiyakunenzela khona.”

₅Bathi enkosini: “Umuntu owasibulalayo waceba ngathi ukuba sichithwe singasali phakathi kwemikhawulo yakwa-Israyeli, ₆masinikwe abantu abayisikhombisa bamadodana akhe, sibaphanyeke kuJehova eGibeya likaSawule, okhethiweyo kaJehova.”

Inkosi yathi: “Ngiyakuninika bona.”

₇Kepha inkosi yamyeka uMefibosheti indodana kaJonathani kaSawule ngenxa yesifungo sikaJehova esasiphakathi kwabo, phakathi kukaDavide noJonathani indodana kaSawule. ₈Kepha inkosi yathatha amadodana kaRispa indodakazi ka-Aya ayewazalele uSawule, o-Arimoni noMefibosheti; namadodana ayisihlanu kaMikhali indodakazi kaSawule ayewazalele u-Adriyeli indodana kaBarizilayi umMeholati; ₉wabanikela ezandleni zabaseGibeyoni, babaphanyeka entabeni phambi kukaJehova, bawa labo abayisikhombisa kanyekanye; babulawa ngesikhathi sokuvuna ezinsukwini zokuqala ngasekuqaleni kokuvunwa kwebhali.*

₁₀URispa indodakazi ka-Aya wathatha indwangu yamasaka, wazendlalela yona edwaleni, kusukela ekuqaleni kokuvuna kuze kuthelwe phezu kwabo amanzi asezulwini; akavumelanga izinyoni zezulu ukuba zihlale phezu kwabo emini, nezilwane zasendle ebusuku. ₁₁Kwabikelwa uDavide ukuthi uRispa indodakazi ka-Aya, isancinza sikaSawule, wenzeni. ₁₂UDavide waya wathatha amathambo kaSawule namathambo kaJonathani indodana yakhe kubantu baseJabeshi Gileyadi ababewebile esigcawini saseBeti Shani, lapho, amaFilisti ayebaphanyeke khona, mhla amaFilisti embulala uSawule eGilibowa. ₁₃Wenyusa lapho amathambo kaSawule namathambo kaJonathani indodana yakhe; baqoqa amathambo ababephanyekiwe.

₁₄Bawembela amathambo kaSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe ezweni lakwaBenjamini eSela ethuneni likaKishi uyise; benza konke okuyalezwe yinkosi. Ngasemuva uNkulunkulu wancengwa ngenxa yezwe.

₁₅AmaFilisti abuye aphaka impi no-Israyeli; uDavide wehla, izinceku zakhe zinaye, balwa namaFilisti; uDavide waphela amandla. ₁₆U-Ishibi Benobi wabantwana bamaRefa osisindo somkhonto wakhe sasingamashekeli* angamakhulu amathathu ethusi, ebhince inkemba entsha, wathi uyakumbulala uDavide. ₁₇Kepha u-Abishayi indodana kaSeruya wamsiza, wamshaya umFilisti wambulala. Base befunga kuye abantu bakaDavide, bathi: “Awusayikuphuma impi nathi, funa ucime isibani sakwa-Israyeli.”

₁₈Kwathi emva kwalokho kwabuye kwavuka impi namaFilisti eGobi; khona uSibekayi umHushati wabulala uSafi owayengowamadodana amaRefa.

₁₉Kwabuye kwaba khona impi namaFilisti eGobi; u-Elihanani indodana kaJahari Oregimi waseBetlehema wabulala uGoliyati umGiti oluthi lomkhonto wakhe lwalunjengogongolo lomaluki.

₂₀Kwabuye kwaba khona impi eGati, lapho kwakukhona umuntu omude owayeneminwe eyisithupha esandleni nezinzwani eziyisthupha onyaweni, kungamashumi amabili nane kukonke; naye wazalwa yiRefa. ₂₁Wameyisa u-Israyeli; ngalokho uJonathani indodana kaShimeyi umfowabo kaDavide wambulala.

₂₂Labo bobane bazalwa ngamaRefa eGati; bawa ngesandla sikaDavide nangesandla sezinceku zakhe.

₁UDavide wakhuluma kuJehova amazwi aleli hubo mhla uJehova emophula esandleni sezitha zakhe zonke nasesandleni sikaSawule, ₂wathi:

₁Lawa angamazwi okugcina kaDavide.

₈Lawa angamagama amaqhawe kaDavide: UJoshebi Bashebeti waseTahekemoni, inhloko yabathathu; nguyena owaphakamisa umkhonto wakhe, walwa nabantu abangamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili abagwazwa ngasikhathi sinye.

₉Emva kwakhe kwakungu-Eleyazare indodana kaDodayi indodana yomAhohi, omunye wamaqhawe amathathu ayenoDavide mhla edelela amaFilisti ayebuthene lapho ukulwa, abantu bakwa-Israyeli sebehambile; ₁₀wasuka wabulala amaFilisti saze sakhathala isandla sakhe, isandla sakhe sanamathela enkembeni; uJehova wenza insindiso enkulu ngalolo suku; abantu babuya emva kwakhe ukuba baphange kuphela.

₁₁Emva kwakhe kwakunguShama indodana ka-Age umHarari. AmaFilisti ayebuthene eLehi, lapho kwakukhona isiqephu sezwe esigcwele imbumba; abantu babaleka ebusweni bamaFilisti. ₁₂Kepha wayemi phakathi nesiqephu, wasivikela, wawabulala amaFilisti; uJehova wenza insindiso enkulu.

₁₃Kwehla abathathu kwaba yizinhloko ezingamashumi amathathu, bafika kuDavide ngesikhathi sokuvuna emhumeni wase-Adulamu; impi yamaFilisti yayimise esiGodini samaRefa. ₁₄UDavide wayesesenqabeni; ikhanda lamaFilisti laliseBetlehema. ₁₅UDavide wanxanela, wathi: “Hawu, sengathi ngingaphuziswa amanzi asemthonjeni waseBetlehema ongasesangweni.” ₁₆Lawo maqhawe amathathu afohla ikamu* lamaFilisti, akha amanzi emthonjeni waseBetlehema owawungasesangweni, awathatha, awaletha kuDavide; kepha akavumanga ukuwaphuza, kodwa wawathululela uJehova. ₁₇Wathi: “Makube kude nami, Jehova, ukuba ngenze lokhu; kuyigazi lalabo bantu ababesuka besengozini.” Akavumanga ukuwaphuza. Lezo zinto zenziwa yilawa maqhawe amathathu.

₁₈U-Abishayi umfowabo kaJowabe indodana kaSeruya wayeyinhloko yabathathu. Waphakamisela abangamakhulu amathathu umkhonto wakhe, wababulala, waba negama phakathi kwalabo abathathu. ₁₉Wayengengotusekayo phakathi kwamashumi amathathu na? Ngalokho waba yisikhulu sabo, kepha akafinyelelanga nokho kwabathathu bokuqala.

₂₀UBenaya indodana kaJehoyada, indodana yendoda enamandla, owayenze imisebenzi emikhulu, owaseKabiseyeli, wabulala amaqhawe amabili akwaMowabi; futhi wehla, wabulala ingonyama phakathi komgodi ngosuku lweqhwa, ₂₁wabulala nowaseGibithe, umuntu owabukeka emuhle; owaseGibithe wayephethe umkhonto esandleni sakhe, kepha wehlela kuye ephethe induku nje, wawuhlwitha umkhonto esandleni sowaseGibithe, wambulala ngomkhonto wakhe. ₂₂Lezo zinto wazenza uBenaya indodana kaJehoyada, waba negama phakathi kwalawo maqhawe amathathu. ₂₃Wayetuseka kunabangamashumi amathathu, kepha akafinyelelanga kwabathathu bokuqala. UDavide wambeka phezu kwabalindi bakhe.

₂₄Phakathi kwabangamashumi amathathu kwakukhona u-Asaheli umfowabo kaJowabe, no-Elihanani indodana kaDodo waseBetlehema, ₂₅noShama waseHarodi, no-Elika waseHarodi, ₂₆noHelesi wasePaliti, no-Ira indodana ka-Ikheshi waseThekhowa, ₂₇no-Abiyezeri wase-Anathoti, noMebunayi umHushati, ₂₈noSalimoni umAhohi, noMaharayi waseNethofa, ₂₉noHelevi indodana kaBahana waseNethofa, no-Ithayi indodana kaRibayi waseGibeya labantwana bakwaBenjamini, ₃₀noBenaya wasePirathoni, noHidayi wangasemifudlaneni yakwaGahashi, ₃₁no-Abi Aliboni wase-Araba, no-Azimaveti waseBarhumi, ₃₂no-Eliyaba waseShahaliboni, noBene Jasheni, noJonathani, ₃₃noShama waseHarari, no-Ahiyamu indodana kaSharari wase-Arari, ₃₄no-Elifeleti indodana ka-Ahashibayi indodana yomMahakha, no-Eliyamu indodana ka-Ahithofeli waseGilo, ₃₅noHeserayi waseKarmeli, noPhaharayi wase-Arabi, ₃₆no-Igali indodana kaNathani waseSoba, noBani wakwaGadi, ₃₇noSeleki wakwa-Amoni, noNaharayi waseBeroti, izindibi zezikhali zikaJowabe indodana kaSeruya, ₃₈no-Ira waseJetheri, noGarebi waseJetheri, ₃₉no-Uriya umHeti, bengamashumi amathathu nesikhombisa bebonke.

₁Intukuthelo kaJehova yabuye yavuthela u-Israyeli, wamvusa uDavide ngabo ngokuthi: “Hamba ubale u-Israyeli noJuda.”

₂Inkosi yathi kuJowabe induna yempi eyayinaye: “Hamba ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli kusukela kwaDani kuze kube seBeri Sheba, nibale abantu ukuba ngiwazi umumo wabantu.”

₃Wayesethi uJowabe enkosini: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho makenezele kubantu kuphindwe kayikhulu phezu kwalokhu abayikho, kubonwe ngamehlo enkosi yami, inkosi; kepha inkosi yami, inkosi, yenamelelani le nto na?”

₄Nokho izwi lenkosi lamahlula uJowabe nezinduna zempi. UJowabe nezinduna zempi baphuma ebusweni benkosi ukuba babale abantu bakwa-Israyeli.

₅Bawela iJordani, bamisa e-Aroweri ngakwesokunene komuzi ophakathi nesigodi sakwaGadi ngaseJazeri; ₆base befika kwaGileyadi nasezweni laseTahetimi Hodishi; bafika naseDani Jahani nangaseSidoni, ₇bafika enqabeni yaseTire, nasemizini yonke yamaHivi namaKhanani; baphuma baya nangaseningizimu kwaJuda eBeri Sheba.

₈Sebedabule izwe lonke bafika eJerusalema ngasekupheleni kwezinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye nezinsuku ezingamashumi amabili.

₉UJowabe wayesenika inkosi umumo wabantu ababaliweyo; kwaba khona kwa-Israyeli amadoda anamandla ayizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili ahloma inkemba; amadoda akwaJuda ayeyizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu ayisihlanu.

₁₀UDavide wahlabeka enhliziyweni emva kokuba esebabalile abantu. UDavide wathi kuJehova: “Ngonile kakhulu ngalokho engikwenzileyo; kepha manje, Jehova, mawuthethelele ububi benceku yakho, ngokuba ngintumazele kakhulu.”

₁₁Wathi ukuba uDavide avuke ekuseni, kwafika izwi likaJehova kumprofethi uGadi umboni kaDavide lokuthi: ₁₂“Hamba ukhulume kuDavide ngokuthi: ‘UJehova usho kanje, uthi: Ngiyakubekela izinto ezintathu; khetha enye kuzo ukuba ngikwenzele yona.’ ”

₁₃UGadi wayesefika kuDavide, wamtshela, wathi kuye: “Kufike kuwe yini iminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala ezweni lakini, noma ubalekele izitha zakho izinyanga ezintathu zisakuxosha, noma kube khona izinsuku ezintathu zesifo ezweni lakini na? Manje cabanga, ubone ukuthi yiliphi izwi engiyakulibuyisela kongithumileyo.”

₁₄Wayesethi uDavide kuGadi: “Nginosizi kakhulu; masiwele esandleni sikaJehova, ngokuba umusa wakhe mkhulu; kepha esandleni somuntu mangingaweli kuso.”

₁₅UJehova wayesethuma isifo phezu kuka-Israyeli kusukela ekuseni kuze kube sesikhathini esinqunyiweyo; kwafa abantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa kusukela kwaDani kuze kube seBeri Sheba. ₁₆Lapho ingelosi yelula isandla sayo kulo iJerusalema ukulichitha, uJehova wazisola ngalobo bubi, wathi engelosini eyachitha abantu: “Sekwanele; buyisa isandla sakho.” Ingelosi kaJehova yayisesibuyeni sika-Arawuna umJebusi.

₁₇UDavide wathi kuJehova, lapho eyibona ingelosi eyayibabulala abantu: “Bheka, mina ngonile, ngenzile okubi; kepha lezi zimvu zenzeni na? Isandla sakho masibe phezu kwami naphezu kwendlu kababa.”

₁₈UGadi wafika ngalolo suku kuDavide, wathi kuye: “Yenyuka, ummisele uJehova i-altare esibuyeni sika-Arawuna umJebusi.” ₁₉UDavide wenyuka njengokusho kukaGadi nanjengokuyala kukaJehova. ₂₀U-Arawuna walunguza, wabona inkosi nezinceku zayo beza kuye; u-Arawuna waphuma, wakhothama phambi kwenkosi, ubuso bakhe bubheke phansi.

₂₁Wathi u-Arawuna: “Kungani ukuba inkosi yami, inkosi, ifikile encekwini yayo na?”

UDavide wathi: “Ukuba ngithenge kuwe isibuya, ngimakhele uJehova i-altare, ukuze lesi sifo sinqamuke kubantu.”

₂₂Wayesethi u-Arawuna kuDavide: “Inkosi yami, inkosi, mayithathe, inikele ngokuhle emehlweni ayo; bheka, nazi izinkabi zomnikelo wokushiswa, nezibhulo, nezinto zokubophela izinkabi zibe yizinkuni; ₂₃konke, nkosi, u-Arawuna uyakunika inkosi.” U-Arawuna wayesethi enkosini: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho makakwamukele.”

₂₄Inkosi yathi ku-Arawuna: “Qha, ngiyakukuthenga nokukuthenga ngenani elithile; angiyikunikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa kuJehova uNkulunkulu wami engeyesihle.” UDavide wayesethenga isibuya nezinkabi ngamashekeli* angamashumi ayisihlanu esiliva. ₂₅UDavide wamakhela khona uJehova i-altare, wanikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa nangeminikelo yokuthula. UJehova wancengwa ngenxa yezwe, isifo sanqamuka kwa-Israyeli.