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.
19 INobi, umuzi wabapristi, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba, abesilisa nabesifazane, izingane nabancelayo, izinkabi nezimbongolo nezimvu, ngosiko lwenkemba.
20 Omunye wamadodana ka-Ahimeleki indodana ka-Ahithubi ogama lakhe lingu-Abiyathara wabaleka, wamlandela uDavide.