Abakwa-Amoni Behlisa Isithunzi Izinceku ZikaDavide
1Kwathi emveni kwalokho inkosi yabakwa-Amoni yafa, uHanuni, indodana yakhe, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sayo. 2UDavide wathi: “Ngiyakumenzela umusa uHanuni, indodana kaNahashi, njengoba uyise angenzela ububele.”
UDavide wathumela izinceku zakhe ukuba ziyomduduza ngoyise. Izinceku zikaDavide zafika kwa-Amoni. 3Kepha abaholi babantu bakwa-Amoni bathi kuHanuni, inkosi yabo: “Uma ubheka, ucabanga ukuthi uDavide uthumele abazokududuza ngoba ehlonipha uyihlo na? Akungakho yini ukuba izinceku zakhe zizohlola umuzi, bese ziwubhubhisa na?”
4UHanuni wazibamba izinceku zikaDavide, wazigunda ingxenye yezilevu zazo, wahhephuna izingubo zazo kwaze kwaba sezinqeni, wayesezikhomba indlela.
5Kwathi lapho bembikela uDavide ngalokho, wathumela ukuba zihlangatshezwe, ngokuba lawo madoda ayehliswe isithunzi kakhulu. Yathi inkosi: “Hlalani eJerikho, zize zihlume izilevu zenu, bese nibuya.”
6Abakwa-Amoni babona ukuthi bazenze isinengiso kuDavide, base bethumela, baqasha ama-Aramu aseBhethi Rehobhe nama-Aramu aseZobha, imigundatshani eyizi-20 000, nenkosi yaseMahakha nabantu bayo abayinkulungwane, namadoda aseThobhi ayizi-12 000.
7UDavide esekuzwile lokho wathumela uJowabe nawo wonke amabutho ayengamaqhawe. 8Abakwa-Amoni baphuma, bahlela impi esikhaleni sesango; ama-Aramu aseZobha naseRehobhe, namadoda aseThobhi, nawaseMahakha babebodwa endle.
9UJowabe wabona ukuthi izimpondo zempi zimzungeze nxazonke, wakhetha amabutho kuwo wonke ayekhethwe kwa-Israyeli, wawathuma ukuba ayokulwa nama-Aramu. 10Amabutho aseleyo wawashiya esandleni sika-Abhishayi, umfowabo, wawathuma ukuba ayokulwa nabakwa-Amoni. 11UJowabe wathi ku-Abhishayi: “Uma ama-Aramu enamandla kunami, uyoza uzongisiza, kanjalo uma abakwa-Amoni benamandla kunawe, ngizofika ngizokusiza. 12Qina, masisebenzise amandla ethu ngenxa yabantu bakithi nangenxa yemizi kaNkulunkulu wethu; uSimakade makenze okuhle emehlweni akhe.”
13UJowabe nabantu ababenaye basondela ukuba balwe nama-Aramu, kodwa abaleka. 14Lapho abakwa-Amoni bebona ukuthi ama-Aramu abalekile, nabo babaleka phambi kuka-Abhishayi, bangena emzini. UJowabe wabuya kwa-Amoni, waya eJerusalema.
15Abase-Aramu lapho bebona ukuthi banqotshiwe ngu-Israyeli, babuthana ndawonye. 16UHadadezeri wayesethumela, wawabiza ama-Aramu ayengaphesheya komfula; afika eHelamu eholwa nguShobhakhi, umkhuzi wempi kaHadadezeri.
17Kwathi uDavide angabikelwa ngalokho, wayeseqoqa wonke u-Israyeli, wawela iJordani, waya eHelamu. Ama-Aramu athumela impi ukuze abhekane noDavide, alwe naye. 18Ama-Aramu abaleka phambi kukaDavide, wabulala ama-Aramu angama-700 ayegibele izinqola zempi, nabamahhashi abayizi-40 000. UShobhakhi, umkhuzi wempi yawo, bamshaya, wafela khona lapho. 19Wonke amakhosi ayeyizinceku zikaHadadezeri, lapho ebona ukuthi u-Israyeli uwanqobile, enza isivumelwano soxolo no-Israyeli, akhonza phansi kuka-Israyeli. Ama-Aramu esaba ukubuye abasize futhi abantu bakwa-Amoni.
