5 Lapho sebemtshela uDavide lokho, wathumela ukuzihlangabeza, ngokuba ayenamahloni kakhulu lawo madoda. Yathi inkosi: “Hlalani eJeriko, zize zihlume izilevu zenu, bese nibuya.”
6 Abantwana bakwa-Amoni sebebone ukuthi banengekile kuDavide, abakwa-Amoni bathuma baqasha ama-Aramu aseBeti Rehobe nama-Aramu aseSoba, imigundatshani eyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili, nenkosi yaseMahakha inabantu abayinkulungwane, nabantu baseThobi beyizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili.
7 UDavide esezwile lokho wamthuma uJowabe nempi yonke yamaqhawe.
8 Abantwana bakwa-Amoni baphuma, bahlela impi ngasesikhaleni sesango; ama-Aramu aseSoba naseRehobe, nabantu baseThobi, nabaseMahakha babebodwa endle.
9 Kepha uJowabe esebona ukuthi izimpondo zempi zimhaqile ngaphambili nangasemuva wakhetha kwabakhethekileyo bakwa-Israyeli, wabahlela ukuba balwe nama-Aramu;
10 abantu abaseleyo wababeka esandleni sika-Abishayi umfowabo, wabahlela ukuba balwe nabantwana bakwa-Amoni.
11 Wathi: “Uma ama-Aramu engahlula, uyakungisiza; kepha uma abantwana bakwa-Amoni bekwahlula, ngiyakufika ngikusize.