1 Unyana kaJerubhali uAbhimeleki waya eShekem kooninalume, wafika wathetha nabo nemizalwana yonke yendlu kayise nonina, wathi:
2 “Khanithethe nabemi baseShekem xa bebonke, nithi: ‘Nikhetha ntoni na: kukho ukuphathwa ngabo bonke oonyana bakaJerubhali abangamashumi asixhenxe, okanye ukulawulwa nguye abe mnye?’ Khumbulani ukuba ndingumntakwenu.”
3 Ooninalume ke bamthethelela kubemi baseShekem, baza ke nabo bavuma, kuba babesithi: “Ngumntakwethu.”
4 Bamnika amashumi asixhenxe eesiliva ababeyithathe endlwini ekunqulelwa kuyo uBhali womnqophiso, waza yena waqesha ngayo iindlavini ukuba zibe ngamahlakani akhe.