12 USawule wathi: “Yizwa-ke, wena ndodana ka-Ahithubi.”Waphendula wathi: “Ngilapha, nkosi.”
13 USawule wathi kuye: “Ningenzeleleni ugobe, wena nendodana kaJese, ngokuyinika isinkwa nenkemba, uyibuzele kuNkulunkulu ukuba ingivukele, ingiqamekele njenganamuhla, na?”
14 U-Ahimeleki waphendula inkosi, wathi: “Ngubani kuzo zonke izinceku zakho othembekile njengoDavide, umkhwenyana wenkosi, nenduna yabalindi bakho, nodumileyo endlini yakho, na?
15 Ngiqale namuhla yini ukumbuzela kuJehova na? Makube kude nami; inkosi mayingabeki cala encekwini yayo, nakuyo yonke indlu kababa, ngokuba inceku yakho ayazi lutho lwayo yonke le ndaba, oluncane noma olukhulu.”
16 Inkosi yayisithi: “Uyakufa nokufa, Ahimeleki, wena nayo yonke indlu kayihlo.”
17 Inkosi yathi kuzo izigijimi ezazimi ngakuyo: “Sondelani, nibulale abapristi bakaJehova, ngokuba nesandla sabo sinaye uDavide nangokuba bazi ukuthi uDavide wabaleka, bengakwambulelanga kimi.” Kepha izinceku zenkosi azivumanga ukwelula isandla sazo ukuba zisukele abapristi bakaJehova.
18 Inkosi yathi kuDowegi: “Sondela wena, usukele abapristi.” UDowegi wabakwa-Edomi wasondela, wabasukela abapristi, wabulala ngalolo suku abantu abangamashumi ayisishiyagalombili nanhlanu, abembethe ingubo yamahlombe yelineni.