2 Emva koko umkhosi uwahlule waba ngamaqela amathathu, elinye liphethwe nguJowabhi, elinye nguAbhishayi umntakwabo-Jowabhi, elinye liphethwe nguItayi waseGati. Ke uDavide wathi kumkhosi wakhe: “Nam ngenkqu ndiza kuphuma kunye nani.”
3 Amadoda omkhosi athi: “Hayi, mhlekazi, mus' ukuya edabini. Akungebi lutho xa utshaba luswantsulisa thina, nokuba kungade kuwe isiqingatha sethu, kodwa ubukho bakho bufana neshumi lamawaka amadoda. Kuhle ke ukuba usale apha esixekweni, uze ukwazi ukusithumela amancedo.”
4 Ukumkani wathi kubo: “Kulungile ke, mandenze loo nto ikholekileyo kuni.” Wema ngasesangweni, ewajongile ukunduluka kwawo, ephuma engamaqela amajoni alikhulu naliwaka.
5 Ukumkani wabayalela ooJowabhi noAbhishayi kunye noItayi, wathi: “Nize nindincede niyiphathe kakuhle laa ntwana inguAbhasalom.” Loo myalelo kaDavide awayewubhekisa kwiinjengele weviwa ngawo onke amadoda omkhosi.
6 Wenjenjeya umkhosi kaDavide ukuya kuqubisana namaSirayeli endle ngakwihlathi lakwaEfrayim, zanqoza.
7 AmaSirayeli oyiswa ngumkhosi kaDavide. Abethwa kakubi, kwasala apho edabini amawaka angamashumi amabini.
8 Idabi layigqiba yonke loo ndawo, uninzi lwafela ehlathini, lwangaphezulu kwabo babefele edabini.