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.
21 U-Abiyathara wamtshela uDavide ukuthi uSawule ubulele abapristi bakaJehova.
22 UDavide wathi ku-Abiyathara: “Ngazi ngalolo suku mhla uDowegi wakwa-Edomi elapho ukuthi uyakumtshela nokumtshela uSawule; yimi engibangele ukuba bafe abantu bonke bendlu kayihlo.
23 Hlala kimi, ungesabi, ngokuba ofuna ukuphila kwami ufuna ukuphila kwakho, kepha uyakulondolozeka kimi.”