1 Kwabakho 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.”
2 Abantu baseGibheyon bebengengawo amaSirayeli. Babeliqaqobana lama-Amori awathenjiswa ukukhuselwa ngamaSirayeli, kodwa uSawule walinga ukuwatshabalalisa, kuba etshiseka ngenxa yenkqubela yamaSirayeli namaJuda. UDavide ke wawabiza amaGibheyon,
3 waza wathi kuwo: “Ngaba nifuna ndinenzele ntoni? Ndinganixolisa njani ukuze nilithamsanqelise ilifa likaNdikhoyo?”
4 Athi ukuphendula amaGibheyon: “Imbambano yethu noSawule nomzi wakhe ayinakuze ilungiswe ngegolide nesiliva, yaye asizimiselanga ukukhupha isixhiba ngokubulala namnye umSirayeli.”Yena wathi: “Ke nifuna ndinenzele ntoni?”
5 Athi kukumkani: “Indoda eyasitshabalalisayo, iceba ukusicima igama kwimida yakwaSirayeli,