To The Word – Day 81

₁Kwathi ngentlako-hlaza ngexesha iikumkani zazidla ngokulwa iimfazwe ngalo, uDavide wandulula uJowabhi kunye namaphakathi nawo wonke umkhosi wakwaSirayeli. Bawachitha-chitha ama-Amon, basingqinga nesixeko sawo iRabha. Ke yena uDavide wayeshiyeke eJerusalem.

₂Ngamhla uthile, ukujika kwelanga, kwathi uDavide esahamba-hamba kumgangatho ophezu kophahla lwebhotwe, esandula ukuvuka emandlalweni wakhe, wabona umfazi ehlamba umzimba. Yaye iyinzwakazi kanobom leyo. ₃Wathumela umntu uDavide, efuna ukuqonda ukuba wayengubani na loo mfazi. Kwathiwa: “NguBhashebha, intombi kaEliyam. Ngumka-Uriya, umfo waseHeti.”

₄UDavide ke wathumela izigidimi ukuba zize naye. Waziswa ke kuye, waza yena walala naye. Oku kwenzeka xa loo mfazi wayesandula ukuzihlambulula emva kokuba sexesheni. Emva koko uBhashebha wabuyela emzini wakhe. ₅Wamitha ke loo mfazi, waza wathumela kuDavide esithi: “Ndikhulelwe.”

₆UDavide usuke wathumela umyalelo kuJowabhi, wathi: “Mthumele kum apha u-Uriya umHeti.” Ke uJowabhi wamthumela kuDavide u-Uriya. ₇Akufika u-Uriya uDavide wambuza ngempilo kaJowabhi, nempilo yomkhosi, nokuba imfazwe iqhuba njani na. ₈Emva koko uDavide uthe ku-Uriya: “Hamba uye endlwini yakho, ukhe uhlambe iinyawo.” Waphuma ke u-Uriya komkhulu, kwalandela isipho esivela kukumkani, sasiwa kwakhe. ₉Akazange agoduke yena u-Uriya; wasuka waya kulala phaya ngasesangweni lakomkhulu kunye nezicaka zikakumkani.

₁₀Waxelelwa uDavide kwathiwa: “U-Uriya akayanga emzini wakhe.” Waza uDavide wathi ku-Uriya: “Ubuseluhambeni ithuba elide; kutheni ungayanga kulala kwakho nje?”

₁₁U-Uriya wathi kuDavide: “Ityesi yomnqophiso kunye namadoda omkhosi akwaSirayeli nakwaJuda ahlala ezintenteni, kanti noJowabhi inkosi yam kwakunye namaphakathi akho, mhlekazi, aphaya endle, ube wena usithi mna mandigoduke nditye, ndisele, ndilale nomkam! Uhleli nje, inene, andisokuze ndiyenze into enjalo, mhlekazi.”

₁₂Uthe ke uDavide ku-Uriya: “Sewuhlala ke okwanamhlanje; ndiza kukukhulula uhambe ngomso.” Wahlala ke apho eJerusalem ngaloo mhla u-Uriya, nangomhla olandela lowo. ₁₃UDavide wammema, waza watya wasela kunye naye, wamnxilisa. Kodwa nangobo busuku akazange agoduke u-Uriya, suka yena waya kulala kwindawo yakhe ngakwizicaka zakomkhulu.

₁₄Kwakusasa ngengomso uDavide wabhalela uJowabhi incwadi, wayithumela kwangoUriya. ₁₅Udaba lwalusithi: “U-Uriya lowo uze umbeke ngaphambili emsini apho lishushu idabi, nize nihlehle, aze yena angxwelerhwe afe.” ₁₆Kwathi ke ekusingqingeni kwakhe isixeko uJowabhi, wambeka kwelona cala linamagorha u-Uriya. ₁₇Waphuma umkhosi esixekweni, walwa nokaJowabhi. Apho kwawa iqela lamajoni omkhosi kaDavide, wafela apho naye u-Uriya umHeti.

₁₈Emva koko uJowabhi wathumela ingxelo kuDavide malunga nemfazwe, ₁₉wasiyalela isigidimi wathi: “Xa ugqibayo ukumbalisela ukumkani ngako konke okwenzeke edabini, ₂₀ngahle abe nomsindo, akubuze athi: ‘Benisondelelani kangaka kwisixeko sotshaba lwethu? Beningaqondi na ukuba zinganidubula ngeentolo zazo zisithele ngodonga? ₂₁Ngubani na owabulala uAbhimeleki unyana kaJerubhesheti? Akafanga na eTebheze ngokugityiselwa ngumfazi ngelitye lokusila, emi ngaphezu kodonga. Benisondelelani kangaka kudonga lwesixeko?’ Uze ke uthi: ‘Nesicaka sakho u-Uriya umHeti ufile.’ ”

₂₂Eso sigidimi ke saya kufika kuDavide, safika samxelela wonke loo myalelo kaJowabhi. ₂₃Wenjenje loo mfo ukuthetha noDavide: “Mhlekazi, ziphumile iintshaba zethu esixekweni, saqubisana endle. Zithande ukusigqwesa, kodwa sazibetha zahlehla zaya kungena ngesango esixekweni. ₂₄Zithe xa silapho ngasesangweni zasidubula ngeentolo zimi eludongeni, zawachana amanye amajoni akho, mhlekazi. Ngokunjalo nesicaka sakho u-Uriya umHeti ufile.”

₂₅UDavide wathi kwisigidimi eso: “Uze uthi kuJowabhi: ‘Uzungavumi ukuba le nto ikutyhafise; kakade ikrele eli lidla kulo nakulowaa. Sihlasele ngamandla isixeko, usichithe.’ Uze utsho ke, umomeleze.”

₂₆Ke umka-Uriya weva ngokusweleka komyeni wakhe, waza wamzilela. ₂₇Lakudlula ixesha lenzila, uDavide wathi makaye kuthathwa, aze kuhlala ebhotwe, abe ngumkakhe. Wafika apho, wazala umntwana oyinkwenkwe. Kambe ke sona isenzo sikaDavide saba sibi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo.

₁Ke kaloku *uNdikhoyo wathumela uNatan kuDavide. Efikile kuDavide uNatan wathi: “Mhlekazi, kwakha kwakho abafo ababini dolophini ithile. Omnye umfo wayesisityebi, omnye elihlwempu. ₂Isityebi eso sasifuye iinkomo neegusha ezininzi. ₃Ihlwempu lona lalingenanto ngaphandle nje kwetakane legusha elalilithengile. Walifuyela kwakhe lo mfo elo takane, londleka, likhulela phakathi kwabantwana bakhe. Wayelifunza kokwakhe ukutya, aliseze ngendebe yakhe, alisingathe. Lalifana nqwa nentombi yakhe kuye. ₄Ngamini ithile laa mfo usisityebi wafikelwa lundwendwe. Ngenxa yomunyu lo mfo akazange athande kulihlinzela undwendwe kweyakhe imfuyo. Usuke waya kuthatha elaa takane lomfo olihlwempu, wenzela undwendwe lwakhe ngalo isidlo.”

₅UDavide wavutha ngumsindo ngakuloo ndoda akuyiva loo nto, waqokela wenjenje, ebhekisa kuNatan: “Ehleni nje uNdikhoyo, inene, loo mntu wenze into enjalo ufanelwe kukufa; ₆yaye ufanelwe kukuhlawuliswa ixabiso lelo takane ngokuphindwe kane, ngenxa yokuba enze ulunya olunje engenalo novelwano.”

₇Ke uNatan wathi kuDavide: “Loo ndoda nguwe! Utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Ndakuthambisa, ndakwenza ukumkani wamaSirayeli, ndakuhlangula esandleni sikaSawule. ₈Ndakunika umzi wenkosi yakho, abafazi bayo ndabanikela esifubeni sakho, ndakwenza ukumkani wakwaSirayeli nakwaJuda. Kanti ke ukuba bezinganelanga ezo zinto ndakwenzela zona, bendingakongezayo. ₉Khawutsho, ngani ukuba ulidele ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, khon' ukuze wenze okubi emehlweni akhe? U-Uriya umHeti umbulele ngekrele, wathatha umkakhe, wamenza umkakho. Ewe, umbulalise ngekrele lama-Amon. ₁₀Kungokunje ikrele alisobe liphele ukudla kulo mzi wakho, kuba undidelile wada wathatha nomka-Uriya umHeti wamenza umfazi wakho.’ ₁₁Utsho ke uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Ndiza kukuvusela isihelegu sento kwalapha phakathi komzi wakho. Abafazi bakho ndiza kubanikela kosondeleyo kuwe, alale nabo kujongiwe, ilanga lihlabe umhlaba. ₁₂Le nto ubuyenza ngasese wena, mna ndifuna yenziwe emini, ibonwa ngamaSirayeli onke.’ ”

₁₃Ke uDavide wathi kuNatan: “Ewe, ndonile kuNdikhoyo.”

Uthe kuDavide uNatan: “UNdikhoyo usisusile isono sakho. Akuzi kufa. ₁₄Kodwa ke, ngenxa yokuba iintshaba zikaNdikhoyo uzinike ithuba lokunyelisa ngenxa yale nto uyenzileyo, loo mntwana wakho uza kufa.” ₁₅Emva koko ke usuke wahamba uNatan, wagoduka.

*UNdikhoyo wamfaka isifo umntwana owamfumana ngomka-Uriya uDavide, wagula kakhulu. ₁₆UDavide usuke wacela ukuba amphilise uThixo, wazila ukutya, wangena endlwini, waqungquluza emhlabeni bonke ubusuku. ₁₇Amadoda amakhulu endlu yakhe aya kuye, efuna ukumvusa kuloo ndawo wayelele kuyo, suka akavuma yena, akafuna nokutya oku kunye nawo. ₁₈Wasweleka loo mntwana ngosuku lwesixhenxe, zoyika ukumxelela izicaka zakhe ukuba loo mntwana akasekho, zatsho zisithi: “Singamxelela njani sithi: ‘Umntwana ufile’? Asinguye kanene lo ubengafuni nokuthetha oku nathi engekabhubhi nokubhubha lo mntwana? He bethu, akangesuke enze into embi efile nje umntwana?”

₁₉Kodwa kuthe akuzibona zisebezelana izicaka, warhana uDavide ukuba lubhubhile olo sana. Uzibuzile ke wathi: “Kwenzeke ntoni? Ufile na umntwana?”

“Ewe, mhlekazi, ubhubhile,” zitshilo izicaka.

₂₀Wavuka ke emhlabeni uDavide, wahlamba. Wathambisa, wanxiba ezinye izambatho, waya kungena endlwini kaNdikhoyo, wanqula. Usuke apho waya endlwini yakhe, wafika wacela into etyiwayo, watya akuba elungiselelwe. ₂₁Izicaka zakhe zathi: “Mhlekazi, noko ke le uyenzayo asisayiqondi. Ube uzilile, ulila, uyenza loo nto usana lungekabhubhi. Ngoku luswelekileyo usana uyavuka utye nokutya!”

₂₂Uphendule wathi: “Ewe, bendizila, ndilila ngokuya belusahleli usana, kuba bendisithi: ‘Ngubani owaziyo? Mhlawumbi uNdikhoyo angandenzela inceba, luphile olo sana.’ ₂₃Ngoku ke usana lubhubhile; ke ndiza kuba sazilela ntoni ndingenakuluvusa nje? Ndim oza kuya apho lukhoyo; lona alunakuze luze kum.”

₂₄Emva koko uDavide waya kuthuthuzela umkakhe uBhashebha, walala naye. Wazala umntwana oyinkwenkwe, wathi igama lakhe nguSolomon. Wayithanda loo nkwenkwana *uNdikhoyo, ₂₅waza wathumela *umshumayeli uNatan ukuba aye kuthi igama layo nguYedidiya ngenxa yokuthandwa kwayo nguNdikhoyo.

₂₆Ke kaloku uJowabhi wahlasela iRabha, ikomkhulu lama-Amon, wathimba umzi wakomkhulu. ₂₇Emva koko uthumele izigidimi ukuba ziye kwazisa uDavide zithi: “Ndiyihlasele iRabha, ndawathimba namadama ayo anqatyisiweyo. ₂₈Ngoku ke ukumkani kufuneka ahlanganise umkhosi, aze kusithatha isixeko, hleze ibe ndim osithimbayo, sibe sesam.”

₂₉Wathatha wonke umkhosi wakhe ke uDavide, waya eRabha, wayihlasela, wayithimba. ₃₀UDavide wasothula isithsaba esasisentloko yokumkani wama-Amon. Sasibunzima bumalunga namashumi amathathu anantlanu eekhilogram, senziwe ngegolide, sihonjiswe ngamatye axabisekileyo. Wasithweswa eso sithsaba uDavide. Wathatha amaxhoba amaninzi kweso sixeko, ₃₁abemi balapho wabathatha wabafaka emsebenzini wokusarha, nowokumba, nokucanda, abanye besebenza kumaziko okwenza izitena. Wenjenjalo ke nakwabanye abemi bezixeko zama-Amon. Emva koko uDavide wabuyela eJerusalem kunye nomkhosi wakhe wonke.

₁Ke kaloku uDavide wayenonyana ogama linguAbhasalom, odade wabo yayinguTamare owayeyinzwakazi. Omnye woonyana bakaDavide ogama linguAmnon, usuke wayithanda le nzwakazi. ₂Wahlupheka uAmnon ngangokude agule ngenxa yodade wabo uTamare, kodwa kwakungekho nto anokuyenza kuye, kuba wayeyintombi engazani nandoda.

₃Phofu kwakukho mfo owayevana noAmnon, owayenguYonadabhi igama; wayengunyana kaShama ongumntakwabo-Davide. UYonadabhi lo wayengumfo onamacebo. ₄UYonadabhi wathi kuAmnon: “Ungunyana kakumkani, kodwa imihla nezolo akukhululekanga; khawutsho, kwenzeke ntoni?”

“Hayi, ndifuna uTamare, lo ungudade bomntakwethu uAbhasalom,” utshilo uAmnon.

₅UYonadabhi wathi kuye: “Zenze umntu ongaphilanga, uye kulala. Uze uthi, akufika uyihlo eze kukubona, uthi kuye: ‘Nceda uthumele udade wethu uTamare, eze kundonga. Ndifuna aze kundilungiselela ukutya apha phambi kwam, andityise ngesakhe isandla.’ ” ₆Wazenza ogulayo ke uAmnon, waya kulala.

Ukumkani waya kumvelela uAmnon, waza yena wathi kukumkani: “Bawo, ndicela uthumele uTamare udade wethu eze kundenzela amaqebengwane amabini ndijongile, andityise ngesakhe isandla.”

₇UDavide ke wathumela kuTamare ebhotwe esithi: “Khawuye endlwini yomnakwenu uAmnon, umenzele into etyiwayo.” ₈Waya ke uTamare endlwini ka-Amnon umntakwabo, wafika esemandlalweni. Wathatha umgubo waxova, wenza amaqebengwana ejongiwe nguAmnon, ₉wawakhupha epanini, wabeka phambi koAmnon, kodwa akatya.

Uvakele uAmnon esithi: “Khupha wonke umntu okule ndlu!” Baphuma bonke abo bantu kuloo ndlu.

₁₀Uthe kuTamare uAmnon: “Zisa loo maqebengwana apha egumbini lam lokulala, undityise ngesakho isandla.” Wawathatha loo maqebengwana awenzileyo uTamare, wawasa kumntakwabo uAmnon egumbini lakhe lokulala. ₁₁Kuthe esamnika ukuba atye, wamthi hlasi, wathi: “Yiza silale, dade wethu.”

₁₂UTamare wathi kuye: “Hayi, mnakwethu, musa ukundinyanzela; ayenziwa into enje kwaSirayeli. Musukulenza eli nyala! ₁₃Khona, mna ndoba yintoni lihlazo lam? Wena kungathiwa usesona sithwangathwanga sakha sakho kwaSirayeli. Ndiyacela ke, thetha nokumkani. Ndiqinisekile uya kuvuma ukundendisela kuwe.” ₁₄Kodwa akazange afune ukuva uAmnon, waza wamnyanzela, walala naye, kuba wayenamandla kunaye.

₁₅Emva koko uAmnon wamcaphukela uTamare ngentiyokazi eyaba ngaphezu kothando abenalo kuye ngaphambili. Uvakele selesithi kuye: “Hamba; phum' apha!”

₁₆“Hayi, andiphumi,” utshilo uTamare. “Yhu, eli hlazo lokundigxotha lingaphezu koqale wandenza lona.”

Akayihoyanga yonke loo nto uAmnon, ₁₇usuke wabiza isicaka sakhe, wathi: “Khupha le ntombazana, imke apha, uze utshixe wakugqiba.” ₁₈Isicaka samkhupha uTamare, saza satshixa ucango.

UTamare wayenxibe isambatho eside esinemikhono emide. Kaloku eso sasisinxibo seentombi ezizalwa komkhulu ngaloo mihla. ₁₉Wazigalela ngothuthu entloko uTamare, wasikrazula eso sambatho sakhe side, wathwala izandla entloko, wasitsho isikhalo, ebheka ngakowabo. ₂₀Uvele kweso sithuba umnakwabo uAbhasalom, wathi: “Ukudlwengule umnakwenu uAmnon? Hayi, dade, musa ukuzikhathaza ngale nto. Ligazi lakho kaloku uAmnon; uze ungamxhibi.” Waya kuhlala kwamnakwabo uAbhasalom uTamare, ephila ubomi belolo.

₂₁Wavutha ngumsindo ukumkani uDavide zakufika kuye ezo ndaba. ₂₂Yena uAbhasalom wamthiya uAmnon ngenxa yokudlwengula udade wabo, kangangokuba akazange aphinde afune nokuthetha oku naye.

₂₃Emva kweminyaka emibini uAbhasalom waba netheko lokuhlinzeka abachebi bakwakhe. Wayelenzela eBhali-hazore engasemdeni welakwaEfrayim. Wayememele bonke oonyana bakakumkani kwelo theko. ₂₄Usuke waya kukumkani uDavide uAbhasalom, wafika wathi: “Mhlekazi, kuyachetywa phaya kwam, ke bendinqwenela ukuba umhlekazi namaphakathi akhe babekho kwitheko eliza kwenziwa.”

₂₅Ukumkani wathi kuAbhasalom: “Hayi, mfo wam, masingayi sonke, hleze wonganyelwe ngumsebenzi xa silapho sonke.” Waba ngacenga uAbhasalom, akavuma uDavide. Ndaweni yaloo nto suka wamndulula ngokumthamsanqela.

₂₆Ke uAbhasalom wathi: “Xa ungavumiyo wena, bawo, umntakwethu uAmnon ngewumkhulula yena ahambe nathi.”

Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Ahambele ntoni nawe?” ₂₇Wacenga uAbhasalom, wada wavuma uDavide ukukhulula uAmnon ahambe noonyana bonke bakakumkani.

₂₈UAbhasalom wafika wayalela izicaka zakhe ngelithi: “UAmnon lo nize nimqaphele, nimbone ukuba seleyobile yiwayini, nimgwaze afe ndakutsho kuni ukuthi: ‘Mbulaleni uAmnon!’ Ze ningoyiki, kutsho mna, niyeva! Ze niqine, nikhaliphe.” ₂₉Hayi ke, izicaka zika-Abhasalom zenza ngokomyalelo wenkosi yazo uAbhasalom. Bonke oonyana bakakumkani bathi khwasu bakhwela iimbongolo zabo, babaleka.

₃₀Zafika kuDavide besesendleleni egodukayo ezo ndaba zithi: “UAbhasalom ubabulele bonke oonyana bakakumkani, akwasala noba abe mnye.” ₃₁Ukumkani wathi khwasu kwangoko, wakrazula izambatho zakhe, waqungquluza emhlabeni. Amaphakathi akhe onke nawo azikrazula ezawo izambatho emi ngakuye.

₃₂Kwesi sithuba kuvele uYonadabhi unyana kaShama umntakwabo-Davide, wathi: “Umhlekazi makangeva kusithiwa babulewe bonke oonyana bakhe; kufe uAmnon yedwa. Loo nto yenzeka kuba uAbhasalom wagqiba kwangalaa mhla uAmnon wadlwengula udade wabo ukuba uya kuze ambulale. ₃₃Ngoko ke umhlekazi makangazihluphi ngokucinga okokuba oonyana bakhe bafe bonke. Hayi, nguAmnon yedwa lo ufileyo.”

₃₄Ke yena uAbhasalom wabaleka wabhaca.

Ke umlindi wabona ihlokondiba labantu lisihla intaba, lihamba ngendlela evela eHoronayim. ₃₅Waza uYonadabhi wathi kukumkani: “Khangela, nabaya besiza oonyana bakakumkani. Kunjengoko besitshilo isicaka sakho.” ₃₆Uthe esakhova nje ukuthetha, bagaleleka oonyana bakakumkani, basitsho isikhalo. Wangenelela ukumkani, amaphakathi nawo angenelela, bonke batsho ngesikrakra.

₃₇UAbhasalom wabalekela kuTalmayi, unyana ka-Amihudi, owayengukumkani waseGeshuri. UDavide wamzilela mihla le uAmnon unyana wakhe. ₃₈Ke yena uAbhasalom owayebalekele eGeshuri wahlala apho iminyaka emithathu. ₃₉Sakudlula isithukuthezi sokufelwa ngunyana wakhe uAmnon, ukumkani uDavide wanqwenela ukuya kumbona unyana wakhe uAbhasalom.

₁Kwesi sithuba uJowabhi unyana kaZeruya waphawula ukuba ukumkani uDavide wayeselenxubile kukukhumbula uAbhasalom. ₂Wathumela abantu eTokowa, ukuya kulanda khona mfazi uthile wayeliqhajazana elilumkileyo. Akuba efikile wathi kuye uJowabhi: “Ndifuna uzenze umntu ozilileyo, unxibe iimpahla zokuzila, ungathambisi, ube ngathi kudala wafelwayo, ₃uze uye kukumkani, ufike umxelele le nto ndifuna uyithethe kuye.” Watsho emnika amazwi amakawathethe kukumkani.

₄Waya ke kukumkani loo mfazi waseTekowa, wafika wawa ngamadolo, ekhahlela, wathi: “Ndincede, mhlekazi!”

₅Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Ngaba ukhathazwa yintoni?”

Uthe ukuphendula loo mfazi: “Mhlekazi, ndingumhlolokazi; ndibhujelwe yindoda. ₆Yaye bendinoonyana ababini. Ngenye imini baxabana besemadlelweni, kwathi ngenxa yokuba kwakungekho mlamli, balwa wabethwa wafa omnye unyana wam. ₇Ngoku ke, mhlekazi, abantu basemzini wam bonke bandivukele besithi: ‘Mnikezele lo ubulele umntakwabo, khon' ukuze sibuyekeze ukufa komntakwabo lo ambuleleyo, kungabi sabakho ndlalifa.’ Ewe, bafuna ukuyicima igama impunde ebesendijonge ukuba yiyo eya kuvusa igama likayise, ivuse nomzi wakowayo.”

₈“Kulungile, ungagoduka, ndiza kunika umyalelo ngokubhekiselele kuwo lo mcimbi,” utshilo ukumkani kuloo mfazi.

₉“Mhlekazi, nkosi yam, mayibe ndim kunye nabantu bakowethu abathwele ityala ngale nto; yena ukumkani kunye nolawulo lwakhe makabe msulwa,” uqokele watsho loo mfazi waseTekowa.

₁₀Ukumkani wathi: “Umntu ophinde wakuthethisa uze uze naye apha kum; akasobe aphinde akuthi cha kwakhona.”

₁₁Umfazi lowo wathi: “Nceda, mhlekazi, uthandaze *kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakho ukuba abaphindezeli bangambulali umntwana wam, ndize ndisale ndingenanyana.”

Yena wathi: “Ehleli nje uNdikhoyo, akukho bani uya kumthi cha nakancinane unyana wakho!”

₁₂Umfazi wathi: “Mhlekazi, nceda usivumele isicakakazi sakho, sibe nelizwi esilibhekisa kuwe.”

“Ewe, thetha,” utshilo ukumkani.

₁₃Wathi ke loo mfazi: “Ke, mhlekazi, uyenzeleni into efana nale kangaka kubantu bakaThixo? Kaloku, mhlekazi, uzigweba ngokwakho ngale ntetho yakho, kuba kwawena akuvumi abuyele ekhaya unyana wakho obhacileyo. ₁₄Sonke simelwe kukufa, siphalale njengamanzi angenakubuya akhiwe. Kambe uThixo akawucimi umphefumlo, koko wenza icebo lokuba obhacileyo ambuyise. ₁₅Into endizise kuwe, mhlekazi, ngabantu abandisongelayo; ndiziswe lithemba lokuba uya kundenzela loo nto ndiyicelayo kuwe. ₁₆Bendisazi ukuba uya kundiva, mhlekazi, undihlangule kunye nomntwana wam kubantu abafuna ukusicima singabikho phakathi kwabantu abemi kumhlaba abawunikwa nguThixo ukuze ube lilifa lethu.

₁₇“Bendisazi ukuba uya kuthetha nje kutsho kuphele amaxhala kum, kuba wena, mhlekazi, uyakwazi ukwahlula okuhle kokubi kanye njengesithunywa sikaThixo. Wanga ke uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho angaba nawe.”

₁₈Kwesi sithuba ukumkani uphendule lo mfazi wathi: “Ndinombuzo endinawo; uze ungakhe ulinge undifihlele impendulo.”

“Mhlekazi, ungandibuza nantoni na,” utshilo loo mfazi.

₁₉Ukumkani wathi: “Asikho na isandla sikaJowabhi kule nto?”

Umfazi waphendula wathi: “Ngenene, ukho nje, mhlekazi nkosi yam, uchane ucwethe; okuthethileyo kunjalo; ewe, liphakathi lakho uJowabhi lo undihlohle la mazwi. ₂₀Kambe le nto isicaka sakho uJowabhi uyenze ngeenjongo zokulungisa. Hayi, ndincamile, mhlekazi; ulwazi lwakho lufana nolwesithunywa sikaThixo, sona sazi konke okwenzekayo elizweni.”

₂₁Emva koko ke ukumkani uDavide ubhekise kuJowabhi wathi: “Kulungile ke, ndiya kukhululela; hamba uye kumlanda laa mfana uAbhasalom.”

₂₂Waziphosa phantsi ke uJowabhi ekhahlela, edomboza ebulela ukumkani, wenjenje: “Ngoku isicaka sakho siyazi ukuba uyakholiseka siso, mhlekazi nkosi yam, kuba undenzele isicelo sam.” ₂₃Wasuka ke uJowabhi wenjenjeya ukusinga eGeshuri, esiya kulanda uAbhasalom, weza naye eJerusalem. ₂₄Akuba efikile ukumkani wathi: “Makaye kuzihlalela endlwini yakhe uAbhasalom; akafuneki nganto apha kum ebhotwe.” Waya kuzihlalela emzini wakhe ke uAbhasalom, akaba savela phambi kokumkani.

₂₅Kwakungekho bani wayenokufaniswa noAbhasalom ngobunzwana kuye wonke uSirayeli. Wayeyinzwana engenasiphako ukusuka entendeni yonyawo lwakhe kuye kutsho phezulu entloko. ₂₆Wayesithi akucheba intloko (nto leyo wayeyenza minyaka le, kuba zazisuka zibe nde kakhulu iinwele zakhe) aziveyishe ezo nwele, zibe sisibini seekhilogram ubunzima ngokomlinganiselo owawusetyenziswa komkhulu. ₂₇Wayenoonyana abathathu uAbhasalom, kunye nentombi eyayinguTamare igama, inzwakazi enomkhitha.

₂₈Kwadlula iminyaka emibini eseJerusalem uAbhasalom, kodwa engekabonani nokumkani. ₂₉Ke uAbhasalom wabiza uJowabhi ukuze amthume kukumkani. Wala ukuza yena uJowabhi. Waphinda wathumela okwesibini, wala kwakhona uJowabhi. ₃₀Uthe ke kwizicaka zakhe uAbhasalom: “Intsimi kaJowabhi nantsiya inengqolowa ngakuleya yakuthi; yiyani niyintumeke umlilo.” Zaya, zayitshisa intsimi kaJowabhi izicaka zika-Abhasalom.

₃₁Wasuka ke uJowabhi waya kwa-Abhasalom, wafika wathi kuye: “Ziyitshiseleni izicaka zakho intsimi yam?”

₃₂UAbhasalom wathi kuJowabhi: “Bendithumele abantu kuwe ndisithi mawuze apha ukuze ndikuthume kukumkani undibuzele uthi: ‘Ndibuyele ntoni eGeshuri? Bekukuhle ndibe ndiselapho nangoku.’ Ngoku ke ndifuna ukubonana nokumkani, ukuze athi, ukuba ndisenetyala, andibulale, ndife kube kanye.”

₃₃UJowabhi undulukile waya kukumkani, wafika wamxelela oko. Uthe ukumkani makabizwe uAbhasalom. Uthe akufika kukumkani uAbhasalom waqubuda phambi kokumkani ekhahlela ubuso ebujongise emhlabeni, waza yena ukumkani wamanga.

₁Emva koko uAbhasalom wazifunela inqwelo namahashe kunye namashumi amahlanu amadoda awankcunkca phambili. ₂Wayedla ngokuvuka ekuseni, aye kuma ngasendleleni eya esangweni lesixeko. Wayedla ngokuthi xa kufika umntu oze nesimangalo komkhulu, ambize, ambuze imvelaphi. Kuthi loo mntu akuba ezilandile echaza isizwe sakwaSirayeli avela kuso, ₃uAbhasalom athi: “Ewe, umthetho uyakungqinela, nomcimbi wakho uyavakala, kodwa ukumkani akanaye umntu ongachophela eli tyala.” ₄Wayeqhubeka athi uAbhasalom: “Akwaba ibindim umntu ochophela amatyala kweli lizwe! Bebeya kuza kum bonke nezimangalo zabo, ndibagwebele kakuhle.” ₅Kwakusithi kwakufika umntu aze akhahlele, uAbhasalom amthi hlasi ngesandla, amphakamise, amwole, amange. ₆Loo nto wathi rhoqo ukuyenza kuwo onke amaSirayeli awayesiza komkhulu ematyaleni. Waba ke uyaziba iintliziyo zamaSirayeli ngaloo ndlela.

₇Emva kweminyaka emine uAbhasalom ubhekise kukumkani wathi: “Mhlekazi, ndiyakucela ndikhulule ndiye kuzalisekisa isibhambathiso endasenza *kuNdikhoyo eHebron. ₈Kaloku ndandenze isifungo ngokuya ndandisahlala eGeshuri kwelama-Aram, ndathi uNdikhoyo ndiya kumenzela idini xa andibuyisele ekhaya eJerusalem.”

₉Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Hamba ngoxolo.”

Wesuka ke wemka uAbhasalom waya eHebron. ₁₀Kanti wayeshiye ethume oongcothoza kuzo zonke izizwe zakwaSirayeli esithi: “Xa nithe neva umtyangampo wesigodlo, ze nithi: ‘UAbhasalom ungukumkani eHebron!’ ” ₁₁UAbhasalom wakhatshwa ngamakhulu amabini amadoda ukuya kwakhe eHebron esuka eJerusalem. Ahamba ngesimemo engazi nto wona phofu ngeli yelenqe. ₁₂Kwathi xa uAhitofele waseGilo, iphakathi likakumkani uDavide, laliye kokwalo eGilo, lisiya kunyusa amadini, uAbhasalom wathuma isigidimi kuye, embiza. Iyelenqe lokuvukela ukumkani laya likhula, namanani eqela lika-Abhasalom aya esanda ngokwanda.

₁₃Kwafika isigidimi kuDavide, sathi: “Iintliziyo zamadoda akwaSirayeli zijikile, zilandela uAbhasalom.” ₁₄Ke uDavide wathi kumaphakathi akhe onke awayeseJerusalem: “Masibaleke kusengoku, kuba asiyi kusinda kuAbhasalom. Masikhawuleze simke, hleze asihlasele ngephanyazo, asihlisele ububi, abulale abemi balo mzi ngekrele.”

₁₅Aphendula ngelithi amaphakathi kuDavide: “Makube njengokubona kwakho, mhlekazi; thina zicaka zakho sesilungile.” ₁₆Wanduluka ke ukumkani nalo lonke usapho lwakhe. Kwasala ishumi labafazi elalingamaqadi, agcina umzi wakomkhulu. ₁₇Ukumkani kunye nabantu awayehamba nabo bathi bakufika ngakwindlu yokugqibela bakha bathi xha apho. ₁₈Onke amaphakathi akhe ema ngakuye lo gama abalindi bakhe abangamaKreti namaPleti badlulayo ngaphambi kwakhe. Emva koko kuze amakhulu amathandathu amadoda omkhosi owamlandela ukusuka eGati.

₁₉Kwesi sithuba ke ukumkani uthe kuItayi waseGati: “Ulapha nawe? Ufunani emva kwam? Hamba uye kungenelela kulaa kumkani mtsha; kaloku ungumntu wasemzini wena, imbacu eyasaba amawayo. ₂₀Hayi, mandingambhadulisi umntu ofika izolo! Andikazi nalapho ndiya kuphelela khona. Jika, wena kunye nala madoda akuni. Akwaba inceba nenyaniso yaba nawe.”

₂₁UItayi wamphendula ukumkani wathi: “Mhlekazi, ekho nje *uNdikhoyo, ikho nje inkosi yam ukumkani, inene, apho iya khona inkosi yam ukumkani, nam sicaka sakho ndiya kuya khona, nditsho nokuba kusebomini nokuba kusekufeni.”

₂₂UDavide wathi kuItayi: “Kulungile ke, yitsho ungena endleleni.” Waba ke njalo uItayi kunye namadoda eqela lakhe nosapho lwakhe lonke balandela uDavide. ₂₃Kwahlokoma ilizwe sisikhalo ekumkeni kukaDavide nabantu bakhe. Wenjenjeya ukumkani ukuya kuwela umlanjana iKedron, elandelwa ngabantu bonke, baya kutsho entlango.

₂₄Wayelapho phakathi kwabo uZadoki umbingeleli, ekunye nabaLevi, bethwele ityesi yomnqophiso kaThixo. Bayibeka phantsi ngakuAbhiyatare, bayilinda kwada kwaphuma wonke umntu esixekweni. ₂₅Emva koko wathi kuZadoki ukumkani: “Le tyesi kaThixo yibuyisele kwasesixekweni. Ukuba uNdikhoyo undigcinile ndobuya ndiyibone kwakhona isendaweni yayo. ₂₆Kodwa ke ukuba uNdikhoyo uthe kum: ‘Andaneliseki nguwe,’ ndim lo, makandenze loo nto ikholekileyo emehlweni akhe.”

₂₇Uqhube wenjenje ukumkani ebhekisa kuZadoki umbingeleli: “Uyayibona imeko, wena ungahamba ngoku, ubuyele esixekweni kunye noAbhiyatare, nihambe kunye nâbo bafana babini, lowo wakho uAhimazi kunye noJonatan unyana ka-Abhiyatare. ₂₈Uyabona, mna ndiya kulinda phaya emazibukweni entlango, kude kufike ilizwi elivela kuwe lokundazisa.” ₂₉Ke uZadoki noAbhiyatare babuyela eJerusalem, bethwele ityesi yomnqophiso, baza bahlala apho.

₃₀UDavide wahamba elila ukunyuka kwakhe iNtaba yemiNquma, egqubuthele, engafakanga nto nasezinyaweni. Bonke ababehamba naye nabo babegqubuthele, behamba belila.

₃₁Waxelelwa uDavide kwathiwa: “Naye uAhitofele ukwicala labavukeli kunye noAbhasalom.” Ke uDavide wathandaza wathi: “Uzuwaphanzise, Ndikhoyo, amacebo ka-Ahitofele!”

₃₂Uthe uDavide xa aqabela encochoyini yenduli, efika apho kwakunqulwa khona, wafika elindelwe nguHushayi umArki, etsho ngezambatho ezikrazukileyo, intloko inomhlaba. ₃₃UDavide wathi kuye: “Akukho nto uya kundinceda ngayo xa uhamba kunye nam. ₃₄Kanti ke xa ubuyela kwasesixekweni uya kundinceda uphanzise amacebo ka-Ahitofele, ufike uthi kuAbhasalom: ‘Ndisisicaka sakho, mhlekazi kumkani! Bendifudula ndisisicaka sikayihlo, kodwa ngoku ndisisicaka sakho.’ ₃₅UZadoki noAbhiyatare ababingeleli uya kufika bekho nako; uze uyixele kubo yonke intshukumo yakomkhulu. ₃₆Bakho nabo ooAhimazi unyana kaZadoki noJonatan unyana ka-Abhiyatare; wondazisa ngako konke okuvileyo komkhulu.”

₃₇Wenjenjeya uHushayi, umhlobo kaDavide, ukuya esixekweni, waya kufika kanye xa uAbhasalom angenayo eJerusalem.