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.
5 Waya nazo kowabo eOfra, waza ke wababulala bonke oonyana bakayise, ebabulalela phezu kwelitye elinye. Kambe ke yona inci kaJerubhali uYotam yazimela yaza yasinda.
6 Baphuma ke abemi baseShekem nabo bonke abaseBhete-milo, bahlanganisana baya kumthi omkhulu wom-oki oseShekem, bammisela khona uAbhimeleki waba ngukumkani wabo.
7 Akuyiva le nto uYotam waqabela kwintaba iGerizim, wakhwaza wathi: “Inzwi! Ndiphulaphuleni, maShekem! NoThixo mhlawumbi anganiphulaphula!
8 Imithi yazimisela ukuzithambisela ukumkani. Yathetha nomnquma, yathi: ‘Yiba ngukumkani wethu.’